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\ 


YOUR  HERITAGE ; 


OB 


NEW  ENGLAND  THREATENED 


BY 


REV.  CALVIN  E.AMARON,  A.M. 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  FRENCH  PROTESTANT  COLLEGE,   SPRLNGFIELD,   MASS. 


SPRINGFIELD,   MASS. 

FRENCH   PROTESTANT  COLLEGE 

1891 


Copyright,  1891. 
By  Calvin  E.  Amaron. 


f('!'57I 


TO  MY  MOTHER 

Whose  noble  life  has  been  spent  in  scatterinff  the  light 

of  the  Gospel  among  the  French  Canadians 

of  Canada, 

whose  strong  and  saintly  character 

has  left  its  impress  on  so  many  lives,  and  whose  memory 

will  ever  be  sacred  to  her 

children,  with  profound  gratitude  and  affection 

I  DEDICATE  THIS  BOOK. 


■  I- 

■  f 


P  U  B  L  I  S  II  E  R  S'    NO  T  ICE. 

o-o 

At  the  h.,ginnirig  ut  tliu  college  year  1890-1)1,  the  Stu- 
dents' Missionary  Society  of  the  French  Protestant  College, 
made  arrangements  with  the  president  of  the  institution, 
for  a  course  of  lectures  to  be  given  monthly  in  different 
churches  of  the  city,  on  the  French  Canadian  immigratioa 
problem. 

Several  requests  having  come  from  the  students  and 
otiiers,  that  these  lectures  be  published  in  book  form,  the 
society  has  sought  and  obtained  the  consent  of  the  author, 
to  give  them  to  tlie  public. 

President  Amaron  has  consequently  enlarged  his  plan  ; 
he  has  added  many  details  and  introduced  various  topics 
whi(!h  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  touch  in  Iiis  lectures. 

The  Students'  Missionary  Society  offers  this  book  to 
the  public,  assured  that  it  will  meet  a  felt  want,  in  com- 
municating much  valuable  information  on  a  problem  of 
absorbing  interest,  bearing  as  it  does  on  one  of  the  most 
vital  questions  now  before  the  country. 


'I  ! 


Ill 


INTRODUCTION. 


BY  REV.  JOSHUA  COIT,  SECRETARY  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
HOME  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


The  importance  of  theFreiich-Canadian  problem  in 
New  England  can  hardly  be  overstated.  The  present  num- 
ber of  French  Canadians  in  New  England  (in  Massa- 
chusetts one  twelfth  of  the  whole  population)  ;  their  certain 
increase,  both  by  immigration  and  by  propagation ;  the 
openly  declared  purposes  of  those  who  control  the  great 
mass  of  this  people  as  no  other  class  in  our  land  is  con- 
trolled i—'dW  unite  to  make  this  problem  a  present  and  press- 
ing one.  The  French  already  begin,  not  only  to  feel,  but 
also  to  boast  of  the  strength  of  their  numbers.  The  Boston 
Herald  of  June  25  1891  in  its  very  full  report  of  the  "Fete 
Nationale  "  held  by  the  French  Canadians  in  Pawtucket 
R.  I.  on  St. Jean  Baptiste's  day,  June  24,  credits  an  ex- 
mayor  of  Pawtucket  with  saying:  "  Mr.  Thibault,  in  his 
address  in  French,  made  a  remark  that  I  have  heard  in  En- 
glish many  times  to-day.  "  Here  are  the  future  rulers  of 
the  country."  That  is  because  there  is  no  other  race  more 
prolific  than  the  French  Canadian  unless  it  be  the  Irish." 
These  are  significant  words  uttered  by  one,  repeated  by 
many  and  endorsed  by  a  mayor  of  no  mean  city. 

It  may  seem  foolish  to  pay  any  heed  to  what  should  be 
looked  upon  simply  as  the  idle  boast  of  a  Fete-day  orator. 
But  the  same  hope  or  expectation  crops  out  in  manv  ways 


vili 


INTRODUCTION. 


and  in  many  places.  Formerly  and  until  recently  the  order 
from  the  bishops  and  priests  to  this  people  was  "  Do  not 
become  citizens  in  the  sta.tes,  but  return  with  your  gains  to 
your  old  homes  in  Canada".  And  the  order  was  obeyed 
and  the  French  were  a  shifting,  restless  class  among  us. 
But  now  the  word  has  gone  forth  :  "Become  chizens"  and 
this  is  obeyed.  The  French  are  buying  farms  and  homes. 
Many  have  become  voters  already  and  very  many  more 
have  taken  out  the  first  papers.  This  means  that  there  is 
gt-thering  among  us  a  large  mass  of  voters  more  pliant  and 
obedient  than  ever  the  Irish  were  to  be  controlled  by  orders 
from  their  superiors.  Great  care  is  taken  by  the  Romish 
priests,  not  only  through  the  parochial  schools  but  also 
trom  their  pulpits,  to  keep  these  people  well  in  hand.  That 
they  succeed  so  well  is  to  be  accounted  for  not  simply  by 
the  ignorance  of  the  people,  though  this  is  deplorable,  but 
also  by  their  piety,  which  is  admirable.  The  danger  to 
our  land  of  this  state  of  things  among  any  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  people  is  plain  and  will  become  plainer  as  the 
years  go  by.  What  risks  are  in  store  for  our  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberties.  Wiiat  confusion  between  public  and  pa- 
rochial schools.     What  conflicts  at  the  ballot  box. 

This  book  assures  us  that  the  warfare  has  already  begun 
and  brings  before  the  public  an  array  of  facts  that  should 
be  considered  by  every  lover  of  his  country.  Make  what 
abatement  you  please  on  account  of  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
author,  there  still  remains  uncontrovertible  evidence  of 
peril. 

If  New  England  is  to  maintain  its  high  standing  in  our 
land  as  a  home  of  intelligence,  education  and  religion,  she 
must  recognize  thie  changes  that  are  taking  place  from  year 
to  year  and  awake  to  the  danger  of  an  imperium  in  impsrio. 

Let  the  French  Canadians  be  truly  Americanized  and 


INTRODUCTION. 


IX 


freed  from  subjection  to  a  foreign  power  and  by  their  in- 
dustry and  frugality  they  will  add  strength  to  our  strength. 
But  kept  distinct  in  language  and  religion,  told  by  those  to 
whom  they  listen  to  remain  French,  they  add  weakness- 
There  is  no  better  way  to  Americanize  them  than  by  the 
influence  of  Christian  education.  The  seven  French  Pro- 
testant churches  under  Congregational  auspices  in  Massa- 
chusetts, the  missions  under  other  denominations,  the 
French  Protestant  newspaper  and  the  French  Protestant 
College  are  all  in  the  way  to  do  great  service  to  the  State 
by  moulding  the  characters  of  those  who,  if  the  prophecy 
of  the  Pawtucket  orator  be  true,  are  to  be  the  future  rulers 
of  the  country. 

Boston,  Mass.,  June  25tb,  1891. 


Il 


I 


tuM 


Philosophers  tell  us  that  the  three  great  bonds  which  bind  peoples 
together  are  community  of  race,  language  and  religion.  The  French 
Cunadians  are  separated  from  us  by  difference  of  religion,  language, 
and  race,  and  by  far  the  most  important  of  these  differences  is  that  of 
religion.  Remove  that  difference,  and  they  will  be  speedily  American- 
ized. 

Manifestly  there  is  an  irreconcilable  difference  between  papal  prin- 
ciples and  the  fundamental  principies  of  our  free  institutions.  Popu- 
lar government  is  self-government.  A  nation  is  capable  of  self- 
government  only  so  far  as  the  individuals  who  compose  it  are  capable 
of  self-government. — Rev.  Josiah  Strong,  D.  D. 

The  facts  concerning  the  enormous  immigration  of  French  Catholics 
from  Canada,  the  attempts  to  control  them  here  by  Jesuit  influences, 
and  the  access  of  the  gospel  to  some  of  them,  are  astonishing. — 
Rev.  Wolcott  Calkins,  D.  D. 


oples 
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prp:face 

The  closing  years  of  this  century  are  to  he  a  crucial 
epoch  for  this  great  American  nation.  During  this  period 
certain  things  must  he  clone.     They   cannot  be   deferred. 

The  growth  ot  the  nation  or  its  decadence,  will  depend 
largely  on  what  is  done  or  left  undone,  hy  way  of  solving 
great  and  perplexing  problems,  the  magnitude  and  impor- 
tance of  which,  are  realized  by  few. 

The  rapid  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  Amerii-an  repub- 
lic, has  engendered  an  unhealthy  optimism.  It  is  thought 
by  thousands  who  are  generally  reckoned  as  cautious  and 
thoughtful,  that  the  luition  rests  on  foundations  absolutely 
immovable.  It  is  imagined  that  the  grand  and  noble  in- 
stitutions to  whicdi  the  nation  owes  it.^  past  greatness,  are 
proot  against  all  adverse  powers.  They  are  so  strongly  es- 
tablished that  they  will  stand  even  when  left  unprotected. 

This  optimism  constitutes  a  source  of  danger  and  weak- 
ness. It  leads  men  to  underestimate  the  strength  of  oppo- 
sing influences  and  principles.  It  makes  them  indilferent 
to  the  great  changes  which  are  taking  place  in  the  nation. 
They  are  unwilling  to  read  and  thus  make  themselves  ac- 
quainted with  stubborn  facts,  which  if  known,  would  have 
the  tendency  of  opening  the  eyes.      AVhen  others  raise   tlio 


Xll 


PREFACE. 

voice  of  warning,  basing  their  fears  on  facts  they  know, 
they  are  not  believed. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  think,  tliat  foundations  are  all  hiid  at 
once,  and  once  for  all.  Foundations  decay,  or  again  they 
become  too  weak  for  the  superstructure  and  must  be  replac- 
ed by  others  stronger  and  more  {ule({uate. 

Tin's  decade  is  in  a  sense,  a  foundation  epoch.  Time 
has  impaired  some  of  the  pillars  the  Pilgrims  and  Puritans 
rightly  considered  to  be  indispensable  to  the  stability  and 
real  growth  of  the  nation.  The  public  schools  have  been 
so  secularized,  tliat  they  have  the  tendency  of  leaving  the 
children  of  foreigners,  whose  imperfect  faith  they  are  ins- 
trumental in  destroying,  without  any  faith  at  all.  Their 
mission  is  not  to  teach  religion. 

Again,  new  wants  have  developed,  unknown  to  the 
founders  of  the  country.  To  meet  these,  new  methods  of 
work  are  imperatively  demanded.  Institutions  with  aims 
similar  to  those  founded  by  the  fathers,  but  radically  differ- 
ent iu  their  methods  of  Avork,  ai"  rcfjuired  by  the  new  state 
of  things  around  us.  The  time  to  lay  tl)e  new  foundations 
is  to-day.  Five  years  hence,  the  wisdom  of  doing  now 
what  God  asks  of  us,  will  be  very  manifest. 

It  will  be  the  aim  of  tiie  author  of  this  little  and  unpre- 
tentious book,  to  call  the  attention  of  unselfish  and  Christ- 
ian politicians,  of  reformers  and  educationalists,  of  lovers 
of  God,  of  humanity  and  of  native  land,  to  the  important 
question  ofFrench  Canadian  immigration  in  New  England 
and  the  United  States. 

For  reasons  which  we  will  endeavor  to  make  clear,  it 
has  become  the  conviction  of  a  good  many  leading  minds  in 
this  country,  that  New  England  has  a  somewhat  important 
notto  say,  serious  problem  to  face,  councted  as  it  is,  with  the 


PREFACE,  xiii 

Irish  and  other  Roman  Cathob'c  immigrant  populations 
that  are  tilling  '-,)  the  land,  and  the  views  of  which  in  mat- 
ters religious,  educational  and  political  are  in  almost  every 
particular  oj)posed  to  the  fundamental  principles  which  must 
necessarily  govern  a  Protestant  republic. 

It  is  our  hope  and  prayer,  that  a  new  impetus  may  be 
given  to  the  work  of  evangelization  so  auspiciously  begun 
among  the  French  speaking  population  of  this  country,  the 
results  of  which  have  gladdened  many  hearts. 

We  are  satisfied  that  a  vast  field  of  usefulness  is  opening 
before  us,  that  it  is  already  ripe  for  the  harvest,  and  that 
as  soon  as  the  Christian  public  has  become  acquainted  with 
the  facts  pertaining  thereunto,  and  that  wise  and  judicious 
as  well  as  practical  methods  are  suggested  for  lae  evangeli- 
zation and  Americanizing  of  these  oppressed  and  down- 
trodden multitudes,  the  help  required  will  not  be  slow  in 


coming. 


It  is  our  purpose  to  furnish  some  information  on  this 
important  question,  to  the  many  who  ask  for  it  and  whom 
we  have  not  been  able  to  satisfy  because  we  had  not  in  a 
tangible  form  what  was  desired.  We  have  tried  to  gather 
the  most  important  facts,  and  we  give  them  to  the  public  in 
the  hope  that  God's  work  may  be  helped  thereby.  9 

Calvin  E.  Amaron. 

French  Protestant  College,  July,  1891. 


nil 


'I 


f». 


CONTENTS. 

^ 

PART  I. 

THE  IXVADIXG  FORCE. 


CHAPTER  I. 


OUR  PURPOSE. 


A  pica  for  the  evangelization  of  the  French  Canadians 
because  they  have  not  yet  the  Gos|)el.  A  patriotic 
as  well  as  religious  movement.  French  Canadians  not 
becoming  Americanized,  but  drifting  into  infidelity. 
New  England  called  to  do  for  herstlf  what  she  is  doing 
for  the  West  and  foreign  field,  ^ye  must  not  forget  the 
great  changes  which  have  taken  place.  The  ship  of 
state  is  in  danger  butyet  safe  if  we  do  our  duty 

•CHAPTER  n. 

OUU  ATTrri'UE. 

We  love  the  French  Canadian  Roman  Catholics  and  des '.re 
to  give  them  the  Gospel,  educate  them  that  they  may 
become  prosperous  American  citizens.  Impossibility 
for  them  to  attain  unto  this,  whilst  under  ultramon- 
tane rule.  Americanism  and  Ultramontanism  mutual- 
ly destructive.  The  Gospel  alone  can  solvethis  problem. 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  III. 


60ME  OF  TFIE  ANTECP]I)KNT8  OK  THE  INVADING  FORCE. 

The  descendantH  of  tho  French  Canadians  are  the  best  of 
colonists,  actuated  by  tho  best  of  motives.  Privileges 
and  advantages  enjoyed  by  the  Romish  church.  Pro- 
testant England's  sad  neglect  and  its  results.  New 
England's  j)resent  opportunity.  Why  the  Americans 
should  warmly  espouse  this  evangeliHti<.'  cause.  French 
hell)  in  time  of  war.    Huguenot  influence  in  America. 

InHuenco  of  French  Protestant  theology  on  New  Eng- 
land  

CHAPTER  IV. 

SOME  OF  THE  CHARACTEUISTK'S  OF  THE  INVADINO  FORCE. 

The  French  Canadians  a  desirable  i)ortion  of  our  foreign 
poj»ulation.  How  we  should  form  our  estimate  of  a 
people.  Many  uneducated  because  Rome  would  not 
educate  them.  She  must  be  held  reHjJonsible  and  must 
not  be  allowed  to  do  hero  what  she  has  done  in  Canada. 
French  Canadians  intelligent,  polite,  religious.  French 
Canadian  literature  comjiaratively  rich.  This  popula- 
tion offers  one  of  tlu;  most  promising  fields  for  mission- 
ary work.  How  the  first  misoionaries  found  the  people 
when  they  began  their  work.  Instances  of  Romish  su- 
perstition. Gratifying  results  of  missionary  efforts. 
Duty  of  the  American  church  to  car(>  foi'  the  converts 
driven  from  Canada  to  New  England  by  persecution... 

CHAI'TER  V. 

THE  NUMERICAL  8TREN(}TH  OF  THE  INVADING  FORCE. 

Sources  of  information.  United  States  census  and  Roman 
Cuu'uolic  clergy.  French  speaking  people  1,000,000  in 
the  United  States,  about  500,000  in  New  England  and 
New  York.  Strengtli  in  other  states.  Immigration  is 
destined  to  ircrease.  Errors  as  to  its  causes.  True 
reason,  the  crushing  burdens  imposed  by  Rome  upon 
the  people.  Burdens  enumerated.  Practical  establish- 
ment of  the  church  of  Rome  in  Quebec,  tithes,  taxes. 
People  fairly  crushed.  Wealth  of  the  church  enormous. 


14 


20 


u 


20 


CONTEXTS.  xvii 

StatiHticH  given.  IU'sultH:(l»'cliii('  of  jjofitilation  by  ex- 
odus to  the  United  StateH.  Canadian  Htatesnien  admit 

tiiey  are  powerlesH  in  cheokinK  it 2H 

CIIAITKR  VI. 

TIIR  PUOnABLE  KUTUHK  (}U(>WTM  OF  THE  I.NVADIN'C  FOHCr:. 

There  ean  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  increase  of  the  French 
in  New  I*in;;iaiid.  1.  I»ecniise  tlie  state  of  things  which 
has  produced  thi.s  laru'e  iiiuni^ration  is  more  prononn- 
ce(l  tlian  ever.  2.  Because  tlu'  Froneh  clerj^y  no  h)nf;'ei' 
oppose  but  rathf'r  favor  the  movement,  because  they 
hope  to  realize  their  dream  of  national  predominance 
over  New  Enf;laiid.  Tlie  French  jtarocliial  scliools  arc 
crcatinj^  a  French  ritramontanc  colony  in  New  Fn- 
gland,  a  forcigTi  state  within  oisr  state.  .'{.  Ilccause  tlie 
French  race  increases  mucli  more  rajtidly  tlian  the 
American  Tlie  pi'iests  exj)h)re  this  mine.  Fxtraordina- 
ry  fijjjures,  one  family  numbej-s  seven  hundred  desccnd- 
.ants.  Premier  .Mercier's  estimate  of  the  strength  of 
this  population  in  1H*)1  and  liity  years  hence.  D.-oa.- 
dance  of  the  Yanke(>  family.  Serioiis  consequences 
unless  the  French  are  converted  to  the  (ios|)el  and  to 
American  modes  of  thouf^ht.  Tlwee  alternatives,  one 
of  whi(;h  must  be  chosen  :  Romish  rule,  infidelity  or 
conversion  to  evarigelical  ti-uth ,'J{) 

CHAPTFR  VII. 

ITS  AIMS  AND  PUI{P0SP:s  FOK  THE   FFTUUE. 

French  Protestants  in  full  sympathy  with  American  ins- 
titutions. Someof  their  persecutions.  French  Canadian 
nationality  no  bar  to  unification.  The  obstacles  lie  in 
KoTnanism.  The  pope  rules  the  French  KomaniHt.  His 
aim  is  to  jjlease  him  first,  then  if  he  can,  the  republic. 
Plan  of  cleixy  :  to  i)revent  the  fusion  of  races,  keep  the 
French  as  the.yare,  and  in  time  (;reate  a  New  Franc<^  on 
American  soil.  Racial  troubles  in  Canada  causcnl  f)y 
the  Ronush  clergy.  They  may  end  in  a  war.  The 
French  settling  here.  M.  Rameau's  view.  Real  estate 
in  the  hands  of  Canadians  in  New  England  over  %\H,- 
000,000.  A  word  of  warning 30 


xviii  CONTENTS. 

PART  II. 

THE  ALLIES  AND  ENGINES  OF  WAR  OF 
THIS  FORCE. 


!ii 


ml 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   KOMAN  CATHOLIC  UIKIIAKCHY. 

We  are  engaged  in  a  real  eonflict.  The  powers  of  niedi- 
aivaliHin  are  arriiyedagainHt  llie  Aineriean  civilization 
of  the  ninetcM'uth  century.  The  French  clergy  the  lead- 
ing force.  Two  cla.sseH  of  pricHtn,  the  sincere  men  and 
those  who  are  not.  Both  classes  are  striving  to  keep 
tlie  French  under  the  power  of  ecdeHiasticisin.  The 
priests  arc  the  sworn  enemies  of  the  assimilation  of 
the  races.  Their  interference  with  the  religious  liberty 
of  the  p(!ople.   Their  interest(;d  motives (52 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE   LIHEUAL  WING   OF   THE    LAITY. 

French  liberals  in  losing  faith  in  Romanism,  lose  all  faith. 
Self-interest  becomes  the  governing  i)rinciple  of  their 
life.  They  btKiome  Rome's  allies  because  of  the  ])rofit  it 
brings  them.  Majority  of  educated  French  belong  to 
that  class.  They  need  the  goodwill  of  the  jnasses  and 
these  are  under  the  ])riestH.  The  liberalizing  influences 
of  this  country,  without  the  Gosi)el,  lead  thousands  of 
French  Canadians  into  infidelity.  The  Gospel  alone 
can  save  them 70 

CHAPTER   III. 

WEAK   AND  UNINFORMED    FIIOTESTANTS. 

The  weakness  of  our  Protestantism  constitutes  Rome's 
strength.  Uninformed  Protestants  help  Rome  to  hurt 
this  country.  Tht^  character,  aims  and  purposes  of 
French  Ultramontaiiisnt  are  not  known  in  New  Eng- 
land. Hard  to  convince  the  Americans  of  the  danger. 
Let  them  inform  themselves.  Rome  is  building  on  their 
good  faith.  There  is  too  great  a  fear  of  Rome  on  the 
part  of  ministers,  business  and  professional  men  and 


C0^  TENTS, 


xix 


'0 


especially  fxilitieinns.  Tho.v  refuse  to  In-lpto  evuiin<?liz(' 
the  Frt'iich  but  build  up  IloiniHli  iuHti^ntionH.  Syinpii- 
thy  and  h('l[)r('l'uH»?d  ourcoiivcrtH,  UotniHliclerkM  j:;etall 
tho  iH'Ht  pliiccH.  Source  of  wenkiieMH  and  dan^^er.  A 
word  of  tiinoly  warning- 70 

(.llAl'TER  IV. 

SKLF-8KKKIN(}   I'OLITICIANS. 

PoliticiuiiH  the  allieH  of  French  ritrainontaniHni.  Home 
ruk'H  Cana(hi.  New  Kngland  beconiinj^' her  wlave.  The 
Hecular  preHS  in  gagged  on  these  vital  rpiestions.  The 
l)ublic  are  not  jjiven  the  information  needed.  No  re- 
ports can  be  ol)tainedan<l  Itome  can  work  in  the  dark. 
Words  of  commendation  for  Home  have  a  prominent 
plac(^  Mercenary  considerations  and  political  exigen- 


cies. 


CHAPTEH   V. 
ENGINES  OF  WAR  FA  HE. 

I.  —  THK   FHKNCn   ROMAN   CATHOLIC  CHUUCH. 

French  Homanism  works  after  a  well-defined  i)lan. 


84 


It 


plantsits  chui-(!hesevei-y where  itcan  and  instils  th<>  old 
ideas.  From  the  pulpit  the  people  are  warned  against 
the  dangers  of  assimilation.  The  priest  gets  much  in- 
formation about  Protestants  through  the  confessional. 
Unwise  Protestants  build  French  Homish  churches  in- 
stead of  giving  these  people  the  (Jospel 90 

II.  —  THE   FUEN'CH   PAHOCHIAL   SCHOOL. 

Duty  of  the  state  to  make  incpiiries  about  these.  The 
French  hierarchy  the  sworn  enemy  of  the  public  school 
system.  They  hate  these  schools  because  they  do  not 
make  Romanists  but  Americans.  Purpose  of  the  paro- 
chial school :  to  prevent  the  French  from  becoming 
enlightened  American  citizens.  They  are  a  menace  to 
the  state.  They  will  bring  this  country  to  the  san:'* 
sad  state  as  Canada.  They  will  make  rebels  of  the 
French.  More  than  time  to  face  this  most  serious 
problem 93 


XX  CONTENTS. 

in.  —  THE   FIIENCH   UOMAN  CATHOLIC  PRESS. 

A  powerful  ugeuey.  Large  number  of  French  papers. 
Edited  by  men  who  have  no  faith  in  Romanism  biit  yet 
help  it.  Having  lost  all  faith  th(!y  have  no  principles. 
They  do  as  Rome  bids  them  do  bfjcause  iu  pays.  Many 
could  not  live  otherwiHo.  All  criticisniH  of  the  church 
suppreHsed.  American  institutious  abused  and  misre- 
presented. Masses  deceived  and  ill-directed.  Protestants 
reviled  especially  French  Protestants.  Extracts. 
Source  of  danger  among  the  uneducated  masses 98 

IV.  —  THE   NATIONAL    CONVENTIONS, 

Romish  centralization.  French  societies  formed  and 
gathered  into  state  and  general  conventions.  Sanc- 
tioned by  American  officials  because  they  are  unaware 
of  the  ])urposes  of  these  conventions.  Governor  of  New 
Hampshire.  What  are  these  conventions?  Anti-Pro- 
testant, finti-American  gatherings,  from  which  French 
Protestant  Canadians  an?  excluded.  The  j)riests  the 
leading  spirits.  Purj)oses:  Establishment  of  j)arochial 
schools,  i)res(-rvation  of  language,  manners,  customs, 
traditions  of  (Quebec  amongthe  French  of  NewEngland 
and  the  cr(^ation  of  a  New  France  here.  These  conven- 
tions are  a  soiu'ce  of  danger 103 

V.  —  TMi;   NATURALIZATION  CLUBS. 


Opposition  of  (clergy  to  naturalization.  The  French  now 
being  hereto  stay,  the  ])riests  desire  the  help  of  their 
vote.  The  naturalization  movement  now  favored. 
Policychanged.  They  become  voters  but  not  American 
citizens.  Important  difference.  French  naturalization 
dubs  one  ol  Ronns's  strongest  engines  of  war  against 
our  American  civilization,  b(»<!ause  the  French  voters 
are  the  blind  tools  of  Rome.  The  priests  will  sell  them 
to  either  ])arty.  Protestant  education  among  the 
French  alone  can  solve  the  problem 112 


CONTENTS. 


XXI 


PART  III. 


<)8 


03 


12 


THE  CONQUEST  OF  THIS  FORCE. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE   NATURE   OF   ()U!£  WAUFARE. 

The  inevitablene.ss  of  the  conflict.  It  is  forced  upon  the 
people  of  thia  nation.  Its  institutions  must  be  i)rotec- 
ted.  Love  for  the  French  Canadians  forces  ns  into  it. 
We  wish  to  set  tlii^in  free.  Tlie  warfare  is  not  a  carnal 
one.  We  iij^ht  for  moral  and  educational  reforms.  We 
consider  this  warfare  to  be  :  1.  Necessary,  because  of 
the  insufficiency  of  Rouianism  as  a  system  of  relig-ion. 
Brief  sketch  of  Romish  teacliiuf^s.  2.  .Tustifiable,  be- 
cause of  Rome's  utter  failure  to  make  of  Freuch  Cana- 
da a  prosperous  nation.  A  parallel  between  New  France 
and  New  England.  3.  God-imposed.  It  is  our  duty  to 
save  this  people.  God  will  hold  us  responsible  if  we  fail 
to  do  it.  The  safety  of  the  nation  denmnds  it 110 

CHAPTER  II. 

OUR  METHODS  OF  WARFARE.  —  .MISSIONARY  WORK. 

Our  first  work  consists  in  removing  j)rejudices  and  com- 
municating knowledge.  The  Fn.'uch  Canadians  have  a 
misconcei)tion  of  Protestantism.  Examples.  Personal 
house-to-house  work  needed.  Distribution  of  the  Bible. 
Cotta!!;e-meetings.  Meetings  on  the  plan  of  Mr.  M'All's 
in  France.  Use  of  the  stereopticon  views.  Tliestudents 
of  the  colh>ge  can  do  much  valuable  work.  Our  forces 
should  be  economized  by  a  proper  division  of  the  mis- 
sionary field.  The  field  awaits  the  worker 130 

CHAPTER  III. 

OUR  METHODS  OF  WARFARE.  —  CHURCH   WORK. 

The  formation  of  churches  for  foreigners  is  for  the  time 
being  a  necessity.  Objections  refuted.  Brief  history  of 
the  French  Protestant  church  movement  in  Massachu- 
setts. Number  of  churches.  Member.sliip.  Sunday  schools. 
Character  of  these  churches  ;  first  French,  then  bi-ling- 


■■WL"™.«HM1 


xxu 


CONTENTS. 


W  I!  i 


ual,  finally  wholly  American.  Rome's  opposition  to 
this.  Reason  why  we  approve  of  this  movement.  The 
best  way  to  advance  th(;  welfare  of  our  nationality. 
'Tis  wisdom  for  Americans  to  help  us.  Problem  of  hill- 
town  churches.   Partial  solution  of  it 140 

CHAPTER  IV. 

OUU  METHOnS  OF  WARFARE.  —  PTJULICATION"  AVORK. 

Power  of  the  press.  The  wisdom  of  using  it  in  this  work. 
Its  long-  felt  need.  Foundation  of  he  Senwur  Frnnco- 
Awf'riciuu.  Its  history.  The  formation  of  the  French 
Evanj^elical  Publishing  Society.  Its  officers.  By  whom 
it  is  ind()rs(Kj.  The  work  it  contemplates.  1.  Publica- 
tion of  tracts,  ]>amphlets  and  literature  adapted  to 
present  needs.  2.  The  ])ublication  of  aweekly  i)aper,  Le 
Citoyen  Frnnco-Ainericain.  Its  mission  :  (a)  To  repres- 
ent the  work  of  French  evangelization,  (b)  To  act  as 
a  family  i)aper  among  our  converts.  ((!)  To  act  as  a 
missionary  among  those  scattered  all  over  the  land, 
(d)  To  rectify  the  wrong  statements  made  by  the 
French  Catholic  press,  (e)  To  reach  thousands  whom 
no  other  agency  can  reach.  Its  influence  for  good  can- 
not be  overestimated 156 

CHAPTER  V. 

OUR  MRTITOns  OF  WARFARE.  —  EDUCATIONAL  WORK. 
THE  FRENCH  PROTESTANT  COLLEOE. 

I.  —  ITS  HISTORY. 

The  first  steps  taken.  Th«>  idea  of  a  college  not  thought 
of  at  first.  TIh!  first  efforts  meet  with  opposition  b*"- 
cause  of  a  misconception  of  the  purposes  of  the  found- 
ers. First  year  of  labor  one  of  trial  and  difficulties. 
Obstacles  removed.  Brighter  hopes  and  assurance  of 
ultimate  success.  Removal  to  Springfi(>ld,Mass 109 

II.  —  ITS  CHIEF  AIMS. 

To  give  a  course  of  education  that  will  fit  the  French 
Canadian  poj)ulation  for  citizenship.  The  character  of 
this  education.  1.  It  must  be  Christian  and  especially 


CONTEXTS. 


XXUI 


40 


iG 


')9 


so,  for  the  population  wo  deal  with.  Early  training  de- 
ficient. Konie  haH  left  the  younjj^nien  without  any  faith. 
The  college  must  give  them  moral  and  religiouH  cul- 
ture. Much  must  be  undone  before  the  work  of  build- 
ing can  begin.  2.  To  supplement  the  vork  done  by  the 
mission  churches.  Pastors  need  help.  Converts  must 
be  taught  before  they  can  teacii.  The  home  training  is 
inadequate.  The  College  has  new  foundations  to  lay. 
3.  To  prepare  young  men  for  Christian  service,  as  lay- 
workers,  evangelists,  missionaries  and  teachers.  The 
broad  field  the  college  has  before  it 180 


III. 


ITS  PLAN  OF  WORK. 


The  domestic  arrangements ;  what  work  is  recjuired  of  the 
students.  Benefits  derived.  Course  of  studies  and  Fa- 
culty. Languages  taught.    Religious  life  and  the  pUice 
the   Bible  occupies; how  it  is  taught.    Daily  worship 
and  how  conducted.  Church  attendance.  Chapel  service 
and  students'  missionary  society  and  work 190 


IV 


ITS  PUESK.VT  STATUS. 


Ah  an  institution  of  learning.  Its  board  of  management. 
Its  location.  Its  buihlings  anil  grounds.  The  i»ublic 
consideration  accorded  it.  Its  sources  of  revenue 198 

v.  —  ITS  BUOADKR  AIMS. 

To  offer  young  women  the  same  advantages  as  young 
men  enjoy.  A  regular  college  course.  Course  of  instruc- 
tion in  house-keeping,  including  sewing  and  cooking. 
Pre{>aration  of  a  body  of  edueated,  cultured  and  refin- 
ed French  Canadian  young  women  for  the  home  and 
for  the  church 

VI.  —  ITS  iM£i:ssiN(i  nf:i:ds. 

New  buildings  are  required  and  an  endowment  fund.  Ad-    201 
ditions  to  the  teaching  staff  in  the  preparatory  and 
college  departments.    A  scholarship  fund  re([uired  to 
aid  needy  students.    The  i)rospects  for  a  strong  and 
powerful  institution  are  encouraging 


ssBsasm 


mm 


iu 


u 


PART  I. 


THE   IXVADIXG    I'OECE. 


II 


i 


\ 


K>SSil 


y 


CHAPTER  I. 


OUR   rUUPOSE. 

The  American  nation  has  the  reputation  of  bein;;  pre- 
eminently practieal.  Whilst  ready  to  jrive  fronerous  hi'lp, 
it  is  cautious  and  docs  not  commit  itself  blindly  to  tiew 
schemes,  the  necessity  and  practicability  of  which  are  not 
made  clear. 

This  book  is,  from  bcginnin;^  to  g^id,  a  plea  for  the  evan- 
gelization of  the  French  speaking  populations  of  this  coun- 
try. 

Believing  as  we  do,  that  the  relations  between  the  French 
of  the  United  States  and  those  of  Canada  will,  from  year 
to  year,  become  closer  and  closer,  it  is  our  conviction, 
that  this  great  religious  movement  on  this  side  the  lines, 
will  exert  a  very  great  reflex  influence  upon  the  Dominion 
of  Canada,  and  help  mightily  in  freeing  it  from  the  weight 
of  ecclesiastical  tyranny,  unsurpassed  in  any  part  of  the 
world,  and  which  is  paralysing  the  whole  nation,  both  Pro- 
testant and  Roman  Catholic.  We  may  therefore  say,  that 
our  plea  is  on  behalf  of  the  French  speaking  people  of 
America. 

In  order  to  convince  those  whom  we  hope  to  reach,  of 


;ii!i!ll 


2  Your  Jleritayc. 

the  righteousness  of  the  cause  we  advocate,  it  may  not  be 
amiss  at  the  outset,  to  call  attention  to  some  of  the  claims 
of  the  French  to  the  sympathy,  affection  and  gratitude 
of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  This  we  will  do  later 
on. 

We  will  have  to  urge  very  strong  reasons  for  affirming 
that  the  vast  majority  are  not  evangelized,  since  in  so  do- 
ing, we  ai'c  impeaching  the  church  of  Komc,  which  for 
some  throe  centuries,  has  had  absolute  control  over  this 
people  in  matters  leligious  and  educational.  AVlien  we 
ask  to-dav,  tluit  they  be  evan^'elized  thronuh  the  efforts  of 
English  (speaking  Protestants,  we  do  uidiesitatingly  say, 
that  they  know  not  the  truth  such  as  taught  by  the  Gos{)el 
of  Jesjis  Christ,  and  thai  to  their  ignorance  of  tliis  Gospel 
of  salvation  and  to  no  other  cause,  must  be  traced  the  ge- 
neral state  of  ba(  kwai'dness  and  ignorance  of  the  i)eople, 
taken  as  a  whole. 

We  will  have  to  make  clear  another  important  fact, 
namely  that  tlie  Amif  ican  nation  cannot  afford  to  afT'ect 
indifierence  toward  this  problem,  neither  the  Christian  nor 
he  who  makes  no  profession  of  religion. 

The  French  Koman  Catholics  of  Canada  ami  New  Eng- 
land, and  Caiuidians  and  American  Protestants  of  these 
two  countries,  are  in  one  and  tlie  same  ship.  To  say,  we 
do  not  care  whether  these  French  Canadians  are  sunk  to 
tiie  bottom,  under  the  burden  of  ecclesiastical  tyranny  or 
not,  is  to  say  we  are  indifferent  to  our  own  fate. 

As  we  shall  show  later  on,  the  French  are  here  in  largo 
numbers  and  are  increasing  at  a  fabulous  I'ate  and  will  soon 
have  outnumbered  you.  They  are  a  foreign  state  within 
your  state.  One  vote  of  theirs  is  just  as  powerful  as  one 
of  yours,  and  when  they  have  five  votes  to  your  one,  they 
will  be  five  times  as  strong  as  you. 


} 


f 


V 


Our  Purpose. 


8 


The  question  is  :  Are  they  becoming  Americans  ?  This 
meau.s,  are  they  imbibing  the  spirit  of  your  Protestant  re- 
publican institutions,  or  are  they  remaining  monarchical 
and  priest-ridden  ?  Are  they  creating  a  New  France  in  your 
midst  ? 

It  will  be  our  purpose  to  show  that  as  things  are  now  de- 
velo})ing,  the  French  are  not  being,  to  any  extent,  affected 
by  American  institutions.  They  keep  aloof  from  them, 
they  are  educated  on  other  lines  and  are  not  being  prepared 
for  American  citizenship.  Having,  for  long  years,  lived  in 
Canada,  a  Protestant  country  with  a  Protestant  majority  to 
be  sure,  but  a  majority  which  Komanism  has  brought  down 
to  an  abject  and  humiliating  subserviency,  we  can  without 
fear  of  going  far  astray,  predict  v/hat  shall  be  the  condition 
of  New  England  fifteen  years  hence,  unless  the  French  and 
Irish  are  taken  out  of  the  old  ruts,  emancipated  from  the 
yoke  of  clericalism  and  made  free  citizens. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  think  that  the  public  schools  will  do  it 
all,  that  the  liberalizing  inlluences  which  surround  these 
foreigners,  will  alone  and  unaided,  effect  the  desired  change. 
These  influences  will  certainly  remove  them  in  a  very  large 
measure  from  the  old  do^^matism  that  has  held  them  so  long 
but  instead  of  making  of  them  good,  law-abiding  citizens, 
will  rather  convert  them  into  rank  infidels,  into  French  Re- 
volution men.  The  only  power  that  will  save  them  is  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  they  know  not.  We  must 
evangelize  them.  In  this  alone  lies  their  happiness  and 
prosperity,  and  the  safety  of  the  nation. 

We  will  then  speak  of  the  best  means  to  be  employed  to 
attain  this  most  desirable  object.  These  are  of  a  practical 
nature,  do  not  call  for  very  large  sums  of  money,  have 
given  in  the  past  encouraging  results,  for  the  amount  spent, 


4  Your  Heritage. 

and  if  iMiule  to  a  reasonable  degree   what  they  should  be, 
will  help  mightily  this  nation  in  its  onward  course. 

It  is  right  that  the  great  West  be  well  provided  with  edu- 
cational institutions  and  Gospel  privileges.  The  church 
and  country  have  already  reaped  a  blessed  harvest  of  good 
from  the  policy  of  the  past.  No  one  possessing  a  mission- 
ary spirit  would  think  of  criticising  the  policy  adopted  in 
the  i)ast,  whereby  emphasis  has  been  laid  on  the  needs  of 
the  West  and  on  the  duty  of  the  New  England  churches  to- 
Avard  the  work  of  Western  evangelization. 

But  may  it  not  be  asked  very  seriously,  whether  the  time 
has  not  fully  come  for  the  East  to  consider  carefully  its 
changed  and  chanj^ing  condition,  and  both  for  its  own  sake 
ahd  i'or  the  sake  of  all  those  missionary  enterprises  so  dear 
to  the  hearts  of  God's  people,  to  eiuiuire  most  earnestly, 
what  measures  shall  be  taken  to  keep  New  England  Pro- 
testant and  American,  that  she  may  be  in  days  to  come  a 
power  fur  self  preservation,  and  that  centre  of  Christian 
and  elevating  influences  she  has  been  in  days  gone  by  ? 

When  dealing  with  these  problems,  a  gi-eat  many  seem 
to  f(jrget,  that  the  New  England  of  to-day,  unto  which  the 
herculean  task  of  the  assimilation  of  these  vast  multitudes 
of  foreigners  is  committed,  is  not  the  New  England  of  days 
gone  bv.  It  no  longer  exists  save  in  the  memory  of  the 
few  gray-haired  men  and  women  who  remain.  The  popu- 
lations which  threaten  the  institutions  Avhich  iiave  been  the 
life  of  the  nation,  were  not  here  a  few  decades  ago.  Now 
they  are  as  numerous  as  the  Protestant  American  popula- 
tion, and  join  in  pulling  the  ship  of  state  towardthe  rapids. 

On  the  other  hand  the  founders  of  these  world-renowned 
states  are  gone  and  it  must  be  huml)ly  admitted  that  many 
of  their  virtues — integrity,  manliness,  devotedness  to  prin- 
ciples— have  been  buried  with  their  bones.     Thousands  of 


Our  Pnrposi'.  5 

theii'  children  have  died,  leiiviiig  no  sons  and  danj,diters  to 
repUice  them.  Tliousands  have  deserted  tlie  oM  liome.s  to 
go  Soutli  or  West  and  their  phices  have  been  tilled  by  those 
with  ditlerent  aims  and  purposes,  holding  religious  views 
which  make  them  natural  Iocs  of  Americanism,  since  the 
latter  and  Komaiiism  rest  on  principles  mutually  destruct- 
ive. 

It  follows  then  that  the  Christian  patiiots  of  to-day,  can- 
not command  the  strong  force  tlu'ir  fathers  had  at  their 
disposal,  have  not  the  same  sturdy  s(jldiers,  while  they  are 
confronted  by  a  vast,  well  organized,  powerful  and  united 
army,  of  which  the  New  England  of  a  few  years  ago,  knew 
comparatively  nothing. 

Can  we  overcome  these  opposing  forces  ?  "Will  the  ship 
of  state  ride  thiough  these  surging  waves  without  being 
wrecked  ?  We  think  not,  unless  there  be  an  awakening 
on  the  part  of  both  clergy  and  laity. 

A  child  can  slay  a  giant  if  the  latter  allow  it.  So  this 
strong  nation  will  i'all  if  it  continue  to  underestimate  the 
strength  of  the  disintegrating  forces  that  are  at  work. 

If  however,  we  are  ready,  as  wise  men,  to  readjust  our 
methods  of  work,  and  not  carry  conservatism  to  undue  lim- 
its, but  adapt  ourselves  lo  the  needs  of  our  age  ;  if  above 
all,  we  will  remember  what  Protestantism  means,  allow 
God  to  baptize  us  anew  with  his  Spirit  and  that  of  the  Re- 
fornuition,  which  is  his,  and  consecpiently  wrought  such 
wonders  ;  if  we  will  understand  that  there  is  such  a  thin"- 
as  truth,  that  it  ditlers  from  error,  and  that  the  latter 
must  be  eradicated  from,  and  the  former  implanted  in  the 
heart  of  "all  the  citizens  of  this  nation,  then  and  then  only 
will  this  nation  prosper. 


1 


■'t  :i 


ill 


1 


CHAPTER    II. 


OUlt     ATTITUDE. 

It  should  be  nlto;rether  unnecessary  tor  a  Protestant 
writer,  at  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  century,  writing  under 
the  shadow  of  the  banner  of  a  great  Protestant  nation,  to 
explain  his  attitude  toward  Ultramontane  Romanism  and 
those  who  are  held  under  its  tyrannical  sway. 

To  have  to  do  so,  disturbs  in  a  measure  my  Walden- 
sian  blood,  and  must  disturb  the  peaceful  silence  of  the 
ashes  of  the  Puritans  and  Pilgrims,  those  noble  fathers 
who  suffered  so  much  in  the  defense  of  those  principles 
of  evangelical  truth,  of  Christian  freedom  and  independence 
which  are  to-day  so  utterly  distorted,  that  they  are  in  the 
hands  of  an  unscrupulous,  politico-religious  organization, 
used  as  Aveapons,  to  bring  this  nation  into  bondage.  How- 
ever paradoxical  the  statement  may  seem  to  be,  it  is  none 
the  less  true,  American  liberties  are  turned  into  weapons 
of  slavery  by  Romardsm. 

Our  purpose  is,  in  a  luiinble  way,  to  help  a  great  and 
good  cause,  and  it  is  with  that  end  in  view  that  Ave  make 
ourselves  "  all  things  to  all  men." 


fil 


8  Your  Hcritafjc. 

"We  wisli  to  free  the  three  milhons  of  French  Cana- 
dians in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  from  the  burdens 
of  Ukramonianism,  because  we  Ujvo  their  souls  and  desire 
their  salvation  ;  because  we  desire  them  to  attain  unto  that 
position  among  tlie  nations  of  the  world,  which  they  would 
have  reached  had  they  been  under  Protestant  influences  ; 
and  finally  because  sve  are  interested,  as  lovers  of  human- 
ity, in  the  steady  progress  of  both  the  British  Empire  of 
Avhich  we  were  once  a  citizen  and  the  American  Republic, 
to  the  Constitution  of  Avhich  we  have  now  sworn  allegiance. 

We  are  once  again  in  Ixefbrmation  days.  The  necessity 
of  such  a  movemcTt  was  perhaps  never  more  felt  since  the 
days  of  Luther  and  Calvin  than  at  the  present  hour.  It  is 
all  the  more  needed  because  of  the  fact  that  so  many  do 
not  recognize  its  necessity. 

It  it  were  necessary  to  convince  men  that  the  French  ag- 
gressive leaders  in  this  reformatory  movement  arc  actuated 
by  disinterested,  unselfish,  })atriotic  and  Christian  motives, 
it  niiglit  be  said  that  they  have  undertaken  a  herculean 
task,  beset  with  great  and  manifold  obstacles,  offering  iiuid- 
equate  financial  suj)port. 

They  are  com{)elled  to  bear  the  insults  of  their  country- 
men, their  taunts  and  ridicule,  not  to  speak  of  the  scandal- 
ous accusations  constantly  thrown  into  their  faces.  Their 
motives  arc  aspersed,  their  patriotism  is  called  into  question 
and  in  every  shape  and  fashion  they  are  trodden  down  by 
their  countrymen. 

Is  it  not  because  the  love  of  God  and  the  flame  of 
sacred  patriotism  burn  in  their  hearts,  that  they  oppose  a 
bold  front  to  Romanism  both  as  a  svstem  of  religion  and 
politics? 

The  cliarge  of  uncharitableness  and  illiberality  made 
against  those  who,  on  bended  knee,  have  given  themselves 


Our  Attitude. 


to  God,  that  lie  may  use  them  for  the  overthrow  of  that 
gigantic  system  of  error  aud  delusion,  is  short-sighted  and 
ill-advised. 

We  write,  fully  conscious  of  the  responsibility  of  the 
statements  we  make.  AVe  ask  men  and  women  who  differ 
from  us,  who  opjtose,  rather  than  help  the  movement  to 
which  oiU"  whole  heart  is  committed,  to  inform  themselves. 

Have  you  lived  all  your  life  in  a  Roman  Catholic  coun- 
try? Have  you  made  yourselves  acquainted  both  from 
books  and  from  the  lips  of  adepts  of  that  system,  with 
Romish  theology  and  principles?  Have  you  taken  the 
troulde  to  ascertain  the  ditference  wliich  exists  between 
Romish  dognuis  as  expressed  by  wily  theologians  and  the 
practical  application  of  these  anti-scriptural  dogmas? 
Have  vou  seen  the  baneful  results  of  such  teachings  amonjf 
the  masses?  Have  you  seen  the  thirsty  soul,  dying  for 
the  "water  of  life,"  and  in  vain  going  for  it,  to  those 
broken  cisterns  which  contain  no  water?  Have  vcu  seen 
on  the  other  hand,  the  utter  indifference,  irroligion  and 
godlessness  to  which  Romanism  leads  three-fourths  of  its 
adepts  ? 

If  you  liave,  we  charge  you  with  uncharitableness,  with 
a  misconception  of  your  duty,  either  as  Christian  ministers 
or  as  Christian  laymen,  we  charge  //oh  with  a  want  of  love 
for  dying  souls,  because  you  do  nothing  to  save  them  ami 
put  obstacles  in  the  way  of  those  who  do. 

If  you  are  ujuictpuiinted  \\  ith  the  facts  we  mention  and 
by  which  our  hearts  luive  so  often  been  saddened,  study 
them.  Take  care  lest  God  should  some  day  accuse  you  of 
being  part^ikers  in  other  men's  sins,  because  you  did  not 
try  to  prevent  them  And  especially  do  not  oppose  a 
movement,  every  eidightened  Christian  is  bound  to  help, 
lest  you  be  found  fighting  against  God. 


i    ' 


10  Your  Heritage. 

If  wc  are  asked  farther,  why  we  put  ourselves  in  con- 
flict with  Romanism,  we  answer :  Because  we  are  Protest- 
ant American  Christian  citizens  ;  because  the  nation  has  a 
right  to  continue  to  exist  and  its  citizens  have  a  right  to 
perpetuate  the  great  rcpuhlican  and  Christian  principles 
w^hich  have  in  the  past  made  the  nation  strong,  and  with- 
out which  she  must  fall ;  because  we  have  a  right  to  ask 
that  the  pure  republican  air  which  has  filled  the  lungs  of 
the  nation  for  a  century,  and  which  we  find  cxhilirating, 
be  left  pure,  uncontaminatcd  by  the  foul  air  of  Jesuitical 
equivocation  and  dishonesty,  of  monarchism  and  absolut- 
ism, which  destroys  all  individuality  and  manhood  and 
kills  a  Christian  republic.  It  does  not  at  all  matter  whether 
the  air  we  breathe  poison  every  one  of  the  eight  millions 
of  Romanists  in  this  country  or  not.  They  need  not  come 
here,  they  are  perfectly  free  to  return  to  Ireland,  Italy, 
Spain  and  Quebec.  There,  the  atmosphere  is  saturated 
with  ultramontanism.  If  that  be  healthy  to  morality,  re- 
ligion, pure  politics,  true  education  and  commercial  prosper- 
ity, why  did  they  leave  it?  If  it  was  debilitatihg  there, 
if  it  produced  stagnation  and  death,  it  will  do  the  same 
here.  You  must  not,  and  you  shall  not  poison  the  life  of 
this  nation. 

Moreover,  we  know  that  if  this  nation  puts  a  stop  at  once 
to  the  secularizing  process  begun  to  please  Rome,  if  it  will 
keep  its  atmosphere,  not  only  republican,  but  Christian, — 
by  keeping  its  public  scliools  Christian, — the  only  safeguard 
of  a  republic,  without  which  it  is  sure  to  become  subject  to 
the  worst  des[)otism,  blind  and  godless  anarchism, — not  a 
single  Romanist  Avill  be  poisoned,  all  will  thrive  and  j)ros- 
per  and  thank  God  for  the  overthrow  of  sacerdotalism,  ec- 
clesiasticism,  and  grinding  absolutism. 

It  has  often  been  a  wonder  to  me,   that  luen  of  intelli- 


Our  Attitude. 


11 


gence,  of  thought,  possessing  logical  acumen,  should  be  so 
slow  in  grasping  the  situation.  The  exercise  of  a  little 
ordinary  coii.mon  sense  would  convince  every  Pro:estant 
American  citizen  that  he  cannot  consistently  with  his  duty 
as  a  Christian  man  and  citizen,  be  anything  but  an  active 
opponent  of  Romanism. 

Here  are  two  systems  face  to  face.  Each  has  a  history, 
with  which  all  can  become  acquainted.  Each  is  gov- 
erned by  principles  which  it  cannot  abandon  without  for- 
feiting its  own  existence. 

There  is  no  occasion  to  state  here  what  are  the  distinctive 
principles  of  Protestantism.  They  are  fully  known.  On 
these,  this  great  Protestant  republic  rests  ;  to  tliem  it  oAves 
its  birth,  its  rise,  its  steady  march,  its  wonderful  growth 
and  prosperity.  "Without  these  it  cannot  stand.  As  well 
might  Bunker  Hill  monument  attempt  to  resist  the  winds 
and  storms,  without  its  broad  and  solid  foundation,  as  this 
republic  without  the  Protestant  Christian  liberties  it  has  en* 
joyed  in  the  past. 

Now  here  comes  a  groat,  powerful,  thoroughly  organized 
corporation,  possessing  a  religious  and  political  character. 
It  also  rests  on  certain  great  principles,  unfortunately  for 
the  good  of  this  nation,  unknown  by  the  American  people. 
The  church  of  Rome  cannot  give  up  its  principles  without 
committing  suicide,  any  more  than  Protestantism  can.  It 
has  not  been  doing  it  even  on  American  soil.  It  does 
not  intend  to  do  so.  It  would  stultify  itself  by  so  doing,  it 
would  compromise  the  dogma  of  papal  infallibility,  now 
the  key-stone  to  the  Avholc  structure. 

In  matters  of  religion  it  preaches  out  and  out  intolerance. 
There  is  but  one  religion,  the  Roman  Catholic,  none  other 
is  recognized  bv  God.  Tliore  is  no  salvation  in  the 
"sects."     It  is  the  duty  of  the  "true  churcii"  to  destroy  all 


12  Your  Hentagc. 

heresies,  and  all  means  are  lawful,  persecutions,  imprison- 
ment, the  rack,  the  gibbet.  To  give  but  one  quotation  out 
of  the  volumes  that  could  be  given.  Archbishop  Kendrick 
says:  "When  t!ie  Catholics  shall  here  be  in  possession  of 
a  considerable  majority,  which  will  certainly  be  the  case 
by  and  by — then  religious  liberty  will  have  come  to  an  end 
in  the  United  States.  Our  enemies  say  this,  and  "^ve  be- 
lieve with  them." 

In  matters  political  and  educational  the  church  of  Rome 
and  the  republic  are  at  opposite  extremes.  Rome  does  not 
believe  in  republics,  save  inasmuch  as  it  can  use  the  lib- 
erties they  offer,  for  its  own  purposes.  It  is  for  that  rea- 
son that  while  Italy  and  France  have  become  intolerable  to 
the  hierarchy,  the  United  States  republic  is  the  paradise 
of  the  clergy  to-day. 

The  whole  tendency  of  Rome's  teaching  is  monarchical. 
The  state  is  to  be  under  the  chirch.  The  head  of  the 
church,  the  Pope,  has  power  over  all  sovereigns.  "If  the 
laws  of  the  state  are  in  oper  contradiction  with  Divine  law 
(that  means  only  what  Rome  calls  divine  law)  if 
they  command  anything  prejudicial  to  the  church  ....  it 
is  a  duty  to  resist  them  and  a  sin  to  obey  them."  So  says 
the  Pope  in  his  last  encyclical  letter  given  in  January,  18D0. 
All  Romanists  are  bound  to  obey  this  infallible  decree. 

Now  the  laws  of  the  state  and  of  Romanism  are  in  al- 
most everything  oj)poscd  to  one  another.  What  this  Pro- 
testant nation  cherishes  almost  as  much  as  life,  is  hated  by 
Rome  with  a  bitter  hatred,  for  the  simple  but  necessary 
reason  that  it-destroys  her.  Freedom  of  speech  for  all — 
not  the  priests  only  but  the  laity, — liberty  of  the  press, 
freedom  of  worship,  a  free  system  of  education  for  all  the 
children  of  the  land,  non-sectarian  but  truly  Christian,  a 
clean  separation  between  church  and  state,  these  we  prize  ; 


Our    Attitude. 


13 


they  are  strength,  growth  and  life  to  us.  Rome  must  op- 
pose them,  she  cannot  do  otherwise,  for  to  her  they  are 
weakness,  decay  and  death. 

Tliere  is  no  conciliation  possible.  It  has  been  tried  again 
and  again.  The  forerunners  of  the  Reformation  tried  it, 
Luther  tried  it,  other  reformers  tried  it.  They  failed  and 
our  Avould-be,  better-informed,  more  lil)oral,  more  enlight- 
ened and  refined  thinkers,  will  e(iually  fail. 

They  have  God's  Word  against  them  which  Rome  dis- 
regards. They  have  the  history  of  centuries  and  the  brief- 
est history  of  tiie  nation  against  them.  Tliey  have  elemen- 
tary logic  opposing  them  at  every  ste}). 

The  warfare  into  which  we  are  forced  by  the  Voice  of 
God  and  of  conscience  is  called  for.  We  enter  into  it  bc- 
.'ausc  souls  that  j;roai>  under  it  should  be  set  free.  We 
Aould  not  bear  these  fetters  a  single  hour,  and  will  we  be 
satisfied  to  have  the:n  remain  about  the  hands  and  feet  of 
)ur  brethren?  Will  we  help  to  strengthen  them  and  make 
them  heavier?  God  forbid.  We  enter  into  this  moral 
battle  because  Ave  wish  to  be  consistent  Protestant  citizens, 
loval  to  truth,  loyal  to  God  and  to  country. 


by 


a 


P" 


T 


CHAPTER   III. 


,1  i 


SOME    OF    ITS    AXTIX'EDEXTS. 

Th«!  limiis  of  tliis  book  do  not  admit  of  even  the  briefest 
sketci'  ol  the  h:Uory  of  the  French  Canadian  people,  how- 
ever interesting  ii  :\v.y  be. 

It  will  suffice  to  aay  that  there  are  several  reasons  which 
might  well  lead  the  Christians  of  the  United  States  to  take  a 
very  deep  and  lively  interest  in  them  and  in  their  deliver- 
ance from  the  intellectual  and  moral  bondage  in  which  the 
majority  has  been  held  for  three  centuries. 

The  people  we  are  now  called  upon  to  evangelize  are  the 
descendants  of  natives  of  France  who  had  nuule  of  Canada, 
then  known  as  "La  Nouvelle  France,"  their  home,  be- 
tween its  discovery  by  Jacques  Cartier  in  1535  and  the 
capture  of  Quebec  by  England  in  1751). 

In  Nova  Scotia,  and  New  Brunswick  are  still  to  be 
found,  several  settlements  of  French,  preserving  the  lan- 
guage, manners  and  religion  of  their  forefathers. 

When  the  first  attempt  was  made  to  give  to  the  Frencii 
Canadians  the  simple  teachings  of  Christ  as  taught  in  the 
Bible,  these  colonists,  located  on  the  rich  lands  lying  along 


Some  of  its  Antecedents.  1') 

the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  iiia<^iiilicent  tribii- 
laries,  did  not  number  much  more  than  iialt'  a  million  of 
souls;  now  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  later,  they  have 
increased  to  nearly  three  millions  if  you  iuchide  those  who 
have  immigrated  to  the  United  States. 

That  part  of  Canada  where  they  were  chietly  located, 
was  still  under  the  old  feudal  tenure,  at  least  coeval  with 
the  17th  century  in  France  and  pretty  nearly  the  same  as 
the  old  Norman  system  in  P^ngland  which  was  al)olislied 
about  the  time  of  Charles  II. — [Canada  Com.  Keport. 

New  France  was  particularly  fortunate  in  the  kind  of 
settlers  who  made  of  it  their  home,  at  the  very  beginning 
of  the  colony.  IJy  no  means  were  tiii-y  all  of  the  kind  gen- 
erally found  in  new  countries.  Among  them  were  several 
men  of  rank  and  learning  who  had  made  of  New  France 
<heir  honn',  through  motives  oi' piety.  They  devoted  them- 
selves to  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  and  occasionally 
succeeded  to  induce  the  red  num  to  bury  his  hatchet  of  war 
for  a  time  at  least.  Aided  by  a  number  of  Jesuits,  Kecol- 
lets  and  otiier  ecclesiastics,  male  and  female,  they  dis- 
played a  wonderful  and  commendable  zeal  in  propagating 
their  erroneous  religious  views,  and  might  well  have  put  to 
shame  the  careless  and  indifferent  Protestant  churches  of 
Canada,  as  well  as  tliose  of  iMU'ope. 

The  report  of  the  French  Canadian  Missionary  Society, 
the  labors  of  which  have  been  so  signally  owned  of  God, 
sj)eaks  of  the  favorable  circumstances  in  which  the  Church 
of  Kome  was  for  the  development  of  the  colony,  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms  :  "The  grants  tor  tlie  support  of  education 
and  religion  were  of  the  most  princely  character ;  the  Is- 
land of  ^Montreal,  those  extensive  domains  known  as  the 
desuit  Estates,  and  many  of  the  most  valuable  portions  of 
the  country  were    freely   given.     Nor    was    aid  of  other 


iiiiii 


16  Yo'/r  Ihritatjfi. 

kinds  wjiiitiiiir,  citlM'i'  tVoin  tlio  Paroiit  eountiy  or  from  the 
Colonists,  to  promote  these  ohjeets,  wisely  felt  to  he  of  sueh 
vast  iniportiUice  iu  the  founding  of  a  new  community.  In 
addition  to  those  grants,  a  provision  wms  created  hy  law, 
in  the  shape  of  a  twenty-sixth  of  the  grain  raised,  payahle 
by  the  farmer  to  the  ])riest  of  tlie  ])ai-ish,  and  which  still 
remains,  although  only  recoverahle  from  those  ot  tlie  Ko- 
num  Catliolic  faith.  As  has  been  remarked  there  were 
among  the  Colonists  not  a  fi'w  whose  acquirements  were  of 
a  superior  description  ;  indeeil,  a  writer  remarks  that  great 
attention  was  in  general  given  to  the  choice  of  those  who 
went  U)  estahlish  themselves  in  Canada,  and  that  as  res- 
pects the  rank  of  tlie  settlers,  it  Avas  said  that  Canada  had 
more  of  the  ancient  nobility  than  any  other  French  colony, 
and  ])erha})S  than  all  of  them  put  together.  Such  was  the 
field  which  the  Chui'eh  of  Korne  had  to  occuj)y  in  Canada." 

We  may  be  pei-mitted  to  ask  whether  this  church  wiiich, 
in  God's  inscrutable  })urpose  was  to  be  the  guardian  of  this 
important  charge,  could  have  had  a  l>elter  and  grander  op- 
portunity, by  the  bestowal  of  intellectual  and  nu.ral  care, 
to  build  up  a  strong,  thrifty,  prosperous  nation? 

Some  say  :  "Komanism  is  right  enough,  it  is  not  the 
best  system  for  a  ])eople  but  it  has  many  great  excellencies." 
In  the  case  befoi-e  us,  the  Komish  hierarchy  had  ample  pro- 
vision to  establish  her  system,  her  priests  were  considered 
demigods  by  the  j)eople  ;  they  had  a  clear  field  before  the 
English  conquest  and  not  oidy  the  fullest  toleration  since, 
but  also  received  many  favors  from  the  liritish  and  Canadian 
govcrimients.  Nothing  then  stood  in  the  way  to  prevent 
the  church  from  doing  her  work.  If  she  had  been  what 
she  claims  tor  herself,  the  only  true  and  living  chu"ch  of 
Christ,  the  mistress  of  nations,  the  source  of  intellectual 
and  moral  power,  the  salt  and  light  of  the  earth,  she  should 


I 


llic 

lun 
Lnt 
liat 
of 
Imil 
luld 


Some  of  its  An(tctdvnts.  17 

li.'ivi'  luiide  of  tills  FiviK'li  coloiiv  one  of  the  lirsl   nalioiis  in 
North    Aiuericu,    in    c(»niinerc'iiil,    intellectual    and    moral 


greatness. 


But  what  (lid  the  Trotestant  Christian  ehurch  of  Europe 
find  out  after  three  centuries  of  culpable  neglect  ?  Was  it 
discovered  that  this  much-vaunted  system  of  religious  and 
secular  education  had  eidightened  the  mind,  had  raised  the 
people  above  the  prejudices  and  superstitions  pticuliar  to  ig- 
norance? Was  it  found  that  the  heart  had  been  made  lib- 
eral and  generous,  that  this  IJonuin  Catholic  colony  was 
foremost  in  relieving  luunan  sutfering  and  in  benevolent  en- 
terprises ?  Did  the  Christian  Church  iind  a  people  resembling 
the  Protestant  colony  of  New  England,  founded  about  one 
hinidrcd  years  later,  well  educated,  thrifty,  prosperous? 
The  answer  is  too  well  known  to  be  repeated. 

Scarcely  a  trace  of  education  could  be  Ibund  among  the 
peasantry,  out  of  every  jury  summoned  oiu^-half  could  not 
read,  and  when  a  parish  had  occasion  to  send  a  petition, 
ninety  jjcr  cent  of  the  names  were  accom{)anied  by  a  mark. 
This  led  an  English  olficer  to  state  in  his  re})ortto  the  homo 
government  that  "the  French  Canadians  were  good  marks- 
men !" 

In  commercial  and  industrial  affairs  the  same  sad  state 
of  things  prevailed.  There  was  a  total  lack  of  enterprise 
among  the  people.  As  for  religion  it  was  not  at  all  what 
Protestants  imagined,  the  reverent  worship  of  God  ;  it  was 
nothing  but  a  round  of  empty  and  meaningless  forms  ac- 
companied by  the  deepest  and  most  degrading  superstitions 
and  bigotry.  Notwithstanding  her  great  privileges  and 
her  wonderful  pretensions — which  arc  the  same  to-day — 
Home  had  failed  completely,  to  raise  this  colony  and  give 
it  a  name  among  the  nations  of  the  world. 

It  was  when  Enj^lish  Protestants  realized  to  what  state 


if 


18 


Yuur   IIfnh(<j( 


I  Sl- 


ot' abject  ignorance  and  l>ack\varilncss,  one  of  the 
most  promising  colonies  of  the  liritish  empire  had 
been  brought,  that  they  began  to  ask  themselves  seriously 
the  question  ;  "Have  we  done  our  duty  toward  these  poor 
victims  of  crn^r  since  they  have  become  Knglish  subjects? 
They  come  from  the  same  stock  as  the  Huguenots,  that 
noble  and  strong  race,  that  has  em-iched  all  the  luition*'  of 
tlie  earth,  that  wisely  opened  their  arms  to  them,  when 
driven  from  France  by  K(jmish  fanaticism.  Why  have 
they  been  at  a  stand-still,  intellectually  and  morally,  dur- 
ing these  three  centuries? 

There  couhl  be  but  one  reason.  The  (iospel  of  Christ 
has  been  kept  from  them  ;  they  have  known  nothing  of  its 
saving  and  elevating  influences. 

The  French  Cauiidians,  who  rojoice  in  tlie  (rosj)i'l,  and 
who  are  prosperous  under  its  bjnign  rule,  as  they  look  back 
over  the  pages  of  their  country's  unfortunate  history,  ex- 
claim with  a  sad  heart :  "•'  Wliy,  O  (Jod  of  nations,  did  not 
Protestant  England  sec  this  sooner?" 

And  as  we  say  tiiis,  we  ask  most  earnestly,  tliat  the 
Christian  people  of  New  England,  may  not  repeat  the  mis- 
take made  by  Old  England.  You  have  in  your  midst  a 
colony  of  French  Canadians  almost  as  large  as  "Ireat 
Britain  had  one  hundred  years  ago.  It  stands  in  need  of 
the  Gospel  to-day,  just  as  nuich  as  it  then  did.  It  will 
gladly  receive  it  if  you  will  only  offer  it.  Let  not  the  op- 
portunity slip  by,  both  for  the  sake  of  this  down-trodden, 
priest-ridden  people,  and  for  your  own. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  recall  the  fact  that  on  more  than 
one  occasion  the  French  have  given  signal  help  to  the 
United  States  in  times  of  war.  In  three  notable  instances, 
recorded  by  historians,  French  arms    secured  or  greatly 


AS 


it    the 

mi>- 

litl^l  a 

h-eat 

bed  of 

Lt   Avill 

\\ii  op- 

Dddeii, 


Some  of  its  Antcccdtiifs.  19 

helped  in  securing,'  tlio  victory  fur  American  troops  over  the 
forces  of  the  enemy. 

Neither  can  Americans  forgot  what  the  Huguenot 
refugees  have  done  tor  the  nation.  They  f(jught  nobly  and 
bravely  for  truth  and  conscience'  sake  in  their  own  be- 
loved land  ;  they  reddened  with  their  blood  the  streets  of 
many  a  town  and  city,  especially  unfortunate  Paris.  It 
was  only  when  Louis  XIV  by  his  foolish,  impcjlitic,  a.-  well 
as  cruel  and  inifjuitous  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  in 
108;"),  drove  away  some  400, 000  of  these  his  most  devoted 
subjects,  that  they  became  exiles,  to  those  countries  that 
wisely  received  them  and  which  they  enriched  with  their 
learning,  skill  and  sterling  integrity  and  piety. 

Many  thousands  came  to  this  country.  Everywhere 
French  names  are  found,  sometimes  intact,  but  oftcner 
Anglicized.  Wherever  the  Huguenot  is  found  a  wholesome 
influence  prevails. 

And  finally,  can  Christian  New  England  forget  what  it 
owes  to  the  theology  of  one  of  the  greatest  men  who  ever 
lived,  flohn  Calvin  ?  His  system  no  doubt  has  undergone 
modilications,  but  who  will  deny  that  its  great  features 
have  been  the  backbone  of  the  theology  that  has  made  New 
England?  Possibly  a  return  to  some  of  these  cardinal 
principles  would  do  more  good  than  harm. 

Enougli  has  been  said  by  way  of  showing  that  the  an- 
tecedents of  the  French  Canadians  are  such  as  to  warrant 
us  in  saying  that  they  have  a  claim  upon  the  attention  of 
the  Christians  of  this  nation. 


■e  than 
I  to  the 
tances, 
[greatly 


i 

r  * 

M  > 


CIIATTKR    IV. 


30mt:  of  its  ciiauacteristics. 

It  is  i^oncrally  athuittod  that  the  French  Canadians  form 
a  desirable  portion  dT  tlie  immigrant  population  of  the 
United  States. 

Notwithstanding  the  long  night  of  Romish  su'  ition 
which  has  brooded  over  the  iiatioTi,  many  of  the  .  is  of 
the  noble  ancestors  from  whom  they  come,  still  remains. 

Seinuor  Blair,  in  one  of  his  speeches  before  the  Senate, 
spoke  in  a  highly  eulogistic  manner  of  the  immigrants  who 
came  to  us  from  across  the  lines. 

In  judging  of  a  nation,  both  of  its  actual  status  and  of  its 
possibilities,  several  things  must  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion. The  general  public  forms  its  conclusions  from  a  very 
limited  number  of  inductions,  and  these  conclusions  are 
consequently  worthless. 

The  actual  status'  of  a  given  communitv  can?iot  be  taken 
as  giving  a  fair  estimate  of  the  whole  nation.  The  educa- 
tional  advantages  of  that  locality  may  have  been  sadly  de- 
ficient, and  other  causes  may  have  combined  to  keep  this 
portion  of  the  nation  behind  the  rest.     It  would  be  man- 


US 
n'ii- 

jery 
are 

[ken 
lica- 
de- 
Itliis 
lian- 


Souic  of  its   Clianicterldics.  SI 

itl'stly  unfair  tu  take  the  ''poor  wliitos"  of  tlii.s  country  as 
a  lair  sample  of  the  American  peoj)le. 

If  I  am  not  ^'reatly  mistaken  tliis  method  of  judging  lias 
prevailed  here  in  the  past,  in  reference  to  the  Frencli 
Canadians,  and  hecausi;  of  this,  a  wrong  estimate  has  been 
formed  of  the  possihilities  of  this  population. 

The  lirst  immigrants  who  came  IVom  (^uel)cc,  did  not  re- 
flect very  great  credit  upon  the  French  Canadian  nationality. 
As  nuich  can  be  said  of  thousands  who  f(dli)\ved  them. 
They  were  ignorant,  superstitious  and  behind  the  age  in 
every  respect.  But  why  it  may  be  asked  ?  Because  of  want 
of  inttdlect  ?  By  no  means.  Because  the  i)oliti<'o-religious 
organization  under  the  control  of  which  they  had  been,  has 
refused  them  the  opportunities  to  become  educated.  It  has 
systematically  crushed  their  intelligence  and  conscience. 
Where  is  the  love  where  is  the  charity  in  those  who  desire 
that  state  of  things  to  (  uutinue  in  (^luibec,  and  who  are 
inditferent  to  the  fact  that  it  is  being  fast  established  among 
the  people  here?  "We  do  not  think  this  is  the  love  and  lib- 
erality which  Jesus  Christ  taught. 

If  then  we  would  answer  iiUelliL'entlv  and  fairlv  the  fiues- 
tion,  concerning  the  true  character  of  the  French  Canadians, 
we  must  incjuire  as  t(j  the  results  obtained  by  proper 
methods  of  education,  both  secular  and  religious. 

A  prominent  banker  in  Lowell  more  than  once  told  me 
as  if  in  despair:  ''It  is  absolutely  inij)ossible  to  do  any- 
thing with  a  French  Canadian."  Tiie  editor  of  one  of  the 
leading  Spriiigfield  papers,  also  said  to  me  :  "I  had  rather 
discuss  and  reason  with  a  post  than  with  a  French  Cana- 
dian." In  all  likeliliood  this  gentleman  had  not  spoken 
twice  with  an  educated,  enlightened  French  Canadian. 

1  have  no  sympathy,  no  patience  in  fact,  with  this  nar- 
row, circumscribed  and  inadequate  view  of  the   matter.     I 


m 


ti  -V 

III 
P 


22  Your  Heritage. 

presume,  1  too,  would  rather  reason  with  a  post  tlian  with 
an  ignorant  and  uncultured  Yankee,  and  I  think  a  half 
dozen  or  so  of  such  could  easily  be  found  throughout  the 
length  and  breath  of  this  educated  land  !  God  has  not  given 
to  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  the  monopoly  of  intelligence. 
What  the  English-speaking  race  has  more  to  be  thankful 
for  than  boastful  of  is,  that  God  has  given  it  a  greater 
share  of  Gospel  blessings  and  privileges  than  to  the  Latin 
racee.  Let  it  not  be  forgotten  by  this  nation  that  it  is 
in  this  that  the  strength  has  resided.  It  will  be  readily 
granted  that  Protestantism  has  developed  mind  as  well  as 
heart  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  Romanism.  This,  in 
fact  constitutes  one  of  the  strongest  reasons  why  we  should 
check  the  growth  of  Romanism  in  this  republic.  It  will 
ruin  the  nation  in  every  respect. 

We  have  said  all  this  in  order  to  help  to  remove  a  pre- 
judice which  exists  in  the  minds  of  many  Americans,  and 
which  leads  them  to  imagine  that  this  large  foreign  Held, 
brought  by  God  to  their  very  doors,  is  unfit  for  intellectual, 
moral  and  religious  culture. 

The  French  Canadian  is  naturally  intelligent,  bright  and 
what  the  French  call  spiritud  or  witty.  He  is  of  a  most 
genial  disposition,  he  is  polite  and  gcntlemaidy  in  his  man- 
ners. Take  a  ride  through  a  farming  district  and  you  will 
find  that  every  man  and  boy  you  meet,  will  ])olitely  touch 
his  hat  to  you  as  he  passes.  If  you  enter  a  house  how- 
ever humble  or  poor  it  may  be,  a  ciiair  is  offered  you,  and 
if  you  are  polite  enough  to  remove  your  hat,  it  will  be 
taken  from  you  and  safely  laid  by.  The  moment  you  rise  to 
go,  you  are  told  :  ''Fumez,  fumez."  The  literal  transla- 
tion is  :  "Smoke,  smoke."  The  idea  probably  is  :  "Don't 
be  in  a  hurry  to  put  your  pipe  out.  Stay,  we  are  glad  of 
your  company." 


3  ■• 


Some  of  its  Characteristics.  23 

The  social  instinct  is  strongly  <levelope(l,  and  many  of 
the  traits  of  the  old  Gauiois  arc  still  found.  Long  stories 
arc  told  around  the  big  stove  in  winter,  by  tl*o  narrator 
who  often  says  as  much  by  his  animated  gestures  and  at- 
titudes as  by  his  words,.  It  is  here  that  the  native  wit, 
crude  though  it  may  be,  but  genuine,  shows  itself. 

jNIoreover,  it  may  1)e  said  that  the  French  Canadians  are 
a  religious  peoj)le,  the  religious  sentiment  is  deeply  rooted 
in  their  hearts.  Would  to  Clod  that  it  had  been  directed 
by  the  Gospel  and  not  by  Romish  priests. 

French  Canada  has  produced  many  a  great  man.  In 
the  rebellion  ot  18;')7  it  liad  sti-ong  political  leaders,  men 
who  would  have  brought  about  great  and  desirable  reforms 
liad  they  not  been  handicapped  by  the  same  power,  the 
Romish  Church. 

Great  educational  reforms  were  attempted  by  a  class  of 
thinkers  worthy  of  the  great  cause  they  had  at  hear!. 
They  could  do  but  little.  They  could  not  give  i'we  course 
to  their  pen.  The  curse  of  the  church  was  upon  them  and 
weak-kneed  Protestants  wouUl  n(jt  give  them  the  support 
they  asked. 

Notwithstanding  these  unbearable  restraints,  whitdi  are 
more  than  fit  to  ])aralyze  every  literary,  every  intellectual 
eiibrt,  French  Canada  has  'developed  a  remarkably  tine  lit- 
erature. It  has  its  novelists,  poets,  historians,  jiu'ists  and 
statesmen.  The  History  of  Canada  by  Garneau  docs  credit 
to  its  author,  and  it  no  doubt  would  have  been  ten  fold  bet- 
ter if  he  had  been  free. 

The  French  Academy  of  Paris,  declared  Frechette  poet- 
laureate.  The  collection  of  poems  which  won  Ibr  him  this 
distinction,  have  been  placed  on  a  pav  with  Victor  Hugo's 
best  efforts. 

3Iontreal,  (Quebec  and  other  cities  have  each  its  circle  of 


Ill 


•.vmv'vifTifirr'-tmmwmmpr 


m 


24  Your  llei'iUuje. 

educated  men  and  women,  and  it  is  here  that  one  can  judge 
of  the  intellectual  capacity  of  a  nation.  It  has  been  found 
that  a  great  many  French  Canadian  young  men,  who  have 
liad  the  courage  to  break  loose  from  Kome  and  face  its  op- 
position in  order  to  enter  our  high  schools  and  IVjtestant 
universities,  have  in  many  instances  outstripped  their  En- 
glish-speaking competitors,  taking  the  highest  honors, 
prizes  and  medals. 

All  that  precedes  goes  to  show  that  this  missictnary  licld 
is  a  vastly  better  one  to  cultivate  than  many  others  on 
Avhicli  the  Church  spends,  and  rightly  too,  large  sums  of 
money. 

Perhaps  it  will  ])e  objected  hy  some  that  there  is  no 
special  need  of  missionary  effort  here.  The  reverse  has 
already  been  made  clear,  yet  more  may  be  said. 

If  any  Christian  man  will  take  the  trou')le  to  visit,  as  I 
havi!  done,  the  '"Little  Canadas,"  in  cities  like  Lowell, 
P'all  River,  ^Lmchester,  Ilolyoke  and  other  cities  and  towns 
of  New  Kiigland,  he  will  soon  realize  to  what  depths  of 
moral  and  intellectual  degradation,  the  masses  can  be 
brought,  even  among  a  people  intelligent  and  well-endowed, 
when  left  to  the  tender  (;are  of  tlu;  Roman  Catholic  clergy. 

A  careful  obsei-ver  would  soon  become  convinced  that 
Rome  has  made  sad  havoc  of  this  people,  that  whilst  it  has 
failed  to  i)reveiit  a  gocxUy  number  of  independent  mintls, 
from  obtaining  by  stealth  the  (uilture  they  craved  for,  tt 
has  crushed  the  intelligence  and  conscience  of  the  masses, 
it  has  destroycMl  in  tlicm  the  very  taste  and  ambition  fur 
education,  commercial  enterprise  and  thrift,  ilow  can  it 
be  otherwise  when  a  people  has  to  bear  burdens  such  as 
those  which  we  will  speak  of  in  the  next  chapter? 

In  181")  the  Wesleyans  of  England  sent  out  John  de 
Pudron    as  a   missionary   to  the  French  of  Canada,     lie 


\ 


'  1 


do 
He 


Sornt  iif  its   Characttrisiics.  25 

tound  tlie  people  ul)jeetly  ijrnorant,  biiroted  and  superstitions. 
In  18."j4  Mr  llt.'nri  Olivier  and  his  denoted  wife  eanie  to 
]Montreal  tor  the  same  purpose.  The  next  year  iSIrs.  II. 
Feller  and  3Ir.  I^.  Koussy  tollowed.  It  would  take  v(d- 
uines  to  relate  their  experiences.  The  peojjle  were  kindly 
disposed  at  lirst  toward  them,  and  received  gladly  the  sim- 
ple story  of  redemption  through  Christ  alone,  until  the 
priests  incited  them  to  commit  shameful  acts  of  persecu- 
tion. Several  times  the  missionaries  were  beaten,  Mr. 
Koussy's  horse  was  cruelly  mutilated,  lie  himself  was  shot 
at,  ]Mrs.  Feller's  house  was  at  night  sui-roundcd  by  a  mob, 
and  with  frightful  and  horrid  imj)recations  she  was  threat- 
ened with  death  if  she  did  not  abandon  what  was  called  the 
new  reli<iion. 

In  I'SlO  when  ]ny  own  father  came  Irom  Creneva,  Swit- 
zerland, as  one  of  the  lir,-«t  missionaries  of  the  Frencdi  Can- 
adian 3Iissionary  Society,  he  and  his  fellow-workers  found 
this  same  sad  and  deploi-able  state  of  things.  Ninety  j»er 
cent  of  the  ])eoj)le  could  not  read.  They  were  made  to  be- 
lieve that  tlu'se  missionaries  were  emissaries  of  the  Devil ; 
they  were  ru\  eiiing  wolves  di'essed  in  sheep's  clothing,  they 
were  dangerous  beings.  Tlu-y  would  bring  plagues  in  tlie 
comnumity,  in  their  wake  would  follow  'Me  loup  garou." 
'•la  bete  a  grande  (pieue."  the  long-tailed  beast.  No  de- 
vout woman  could  even  dri'am  of  receiving  the  absolution 
at  the  conlessional,  unless  she  piomised  she  would  give 
these  false  prophets  a  goctd  broom-stick  reception.  My 
fathei'  had  occasion  to  become  convinced  that  they  were 
adepts  at  the  art  ! 

The  following  incident  will  .•^nUice  to  ;_rive  an  idea  of  the 
si'per-Jtition  which  j)revailed.  It  is  taken  from  the  report 
of  (lie  (»t  the  missionaries  dated  Kith  I)».'cember.  l>i-10: 
'*T(  -day  I  vi.-itcd  a  person  to  whom  wi'  had  Kiit   a    liible. 


it. 


2(!  Your  Heritage. 

Fil'ty  persons  assenible(u  *  *  *  |  endeavored  to  ad- 
dress tliem  seriously  on  the  danger  in  wliieli  they  were  if 
they  died  unconverted.  It  was  ot'  no  avail ;  but  what  as- 
tonished me  most  was  that  they  kept  always  lookinji  at  my 
feet.  Finally  a  woman  said  that  their  priest  had  told  them 
that  in  the  latter  days  false  prophets  would  come  and  that 
we  were  such  ;  that  wo  were  malignant  s])irits  escaped 
from  the  bottom  of  hell  and  come  to  destroy  their  souls. 
*  But  my  dear  hearers,'  said  he,  'would  you  know  them, 
then,  when  they  visit  you,  ask  them  to  uncover  their  left 
foot,  and  they  will  be  found  to  be  cloven  like  those  of  a 
cow  or  sheep.  Those,  however,  who  have  not  their  feet 
cloven,  are  good  people  and  you  can  listen  to  them.'  After 
this  reply,  1  took  oil'  my  shoe  and  stocking,  but  oh  I  my 
dear  brethren,  it  is  im{)ossi)jle  to  describe  what  passed  in 
my  heart,  on  viewing  these  poor  people  crowding  round 
me  to  look  at  my  foot.  1  immediately  saw  a  great  change 
on  their  countenance.  Their  fear,  their  prejudices,  disap- 
peared, and  I  had  the  joy  of  announcing  to  them  the  (Jos- 
pel.  They  listened  with  much  attention,  and  I  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  priest's  falsehood  respecting  the  cloven  foot, 
to  show  them  that  all  t!ie  (Hher  things  he  said  against  us 
were  alike  false." 

It  is  admitted  that  the  work  ol'  the  Grande  Ligne  Mis- 
sion, that  of  the  French  Canadian  Missionary  Society,  of 
the  Sabrevois  ^Mission,  and  these  few  last  years  that  of  the 
the  Board  of  I  rench  Evangelization  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Canada  and  of  the  Methodist  Church,  has  made 
a  decided  chanire  in  the  country  and  coinpelled  the  liomish 
clergy  to  give  education  to  the  people. 

There  cannot  be  less  than  loO  French  preaching 
stations,  with  between  OOUO  and  7000  members  and 
double    that    number  of  adherents.     At  a    rough    guess 


ii 


Some  of  its  Cliaracteristlcs. 


27 


I  should    say    there    are    over    200  missionaries  at  work. 

A  great  many  of  tlie  converts  have  been  driven  to  the 
United  States  by  persecution  and  it  is  our  duty  to  care  for 
them,  give  them  the  means  of  firace  in  the  only  tongue  they 
can  understand,  else  they  will  fall  into  carelessness  and  ir- 
religion.  The  prospects  of  success  here  are  far  greater 
than  in  Canada  because  there  is  more  liberty  and  the  con- 
verts find  it  easier  to  obtain  a  livelihood. 

Remove  the  French  Canadian  from  the  blighting  influ- 
ences by  which  Rome  has  surrounded  him  for  more  than 
three  centuries,  let  him  have  the  advantage  of  a  good  lib- 
eral education,  give  him  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  its  sim- 
plicity and  purity,  and  ore  long  you  will  see  the  Huguenot 
traits  reappear  in  him,  you  will  soon  have  an  American 
Christian  citizen,  ready  to  uphold  your  institutions,  not 
necessarily  because  they  are  American,  but  because  they 
rest  on  great  principles  which  he  approves.  He  will  thus 
become  a  prosperous  man,  and  a  source  of  strength  to  the 
country  of  his  adoption. 


CHAPTER  V. 


ITS    NLMKUICAL    STHENGTII. 

It  is  not  very  easy  to  obtain  accurate  statistics  of  the 
French  Canadian  popuhition  of  the  United  States. 

They  are  furnished  from  two  sources  :  tlic  United  States 
census  and  the  census  of  the  Roman  clergy  iheniselves. 
The  discrepancies  between  the  two  are  very  wide.  While 
the  INIassachusetts  census  for  188")  gives  only  04,503,  three 
years  later  the  total  number  reported  by  French  agents  was 
120,000. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  latter  source  of  inform- 
ation is  more  reliable  than  the  former.  The  French  do  not 
understand  the  American  census  taker,  and  thus  fails  to 
furnish  him  with  accurate  figures.  Or  again,  many  illite- 
rate peo[)le  are  afraid  of  him  ;  they  imagine  the  names  are 
being  taken  for  some  hidden  purpose.  It  may  be  for  the 
army  i'ov  what  they  know.  Thus  they  suppress  facts  and 
the  information  obtained  is  anything  but  accurate  and  com- 
plete. 

When,  however,  French  agents  are  sent  by  the  priests  or 
when  the  priests  themselves  go  in  quest  of  the  same  inform- 


Its  Numerical  Strength.  29 

ation,  tliey  readily  obtain  it,  because  they  are    not  suspect- 
ed of  occult  and  nefj.rious  i)ur[)oses. 

It  may  also  be  said  tluit  in  almost  all  the  states  of  the 
Union,  the  French  Canadians  luive  been  iiimped  in  as  Brit- 
ish immigrants.  It  is  oidy  of  late  that  the  attention  of  the 
country  has  been  turned  to  this  larj^e  and  rapidly  increas- 
ing immigration  from  Roman  Catholic  Canada. 

We  therefore  give  here  the  latest  statistics  furnished  by 
French  Catholic  authorities  and  are  satisfied  that  they  are 
tolerably  accurate. 

The  FVench  speaking  population  of  the  United  States  is 
jnit  down  at  1,500,000.  Ab(,ut  500,000  of  these  are  Eu- 
ropean French,  Swiss  and  Belgians,  and  the  remaining 
million,  are  from  Canada. 

In  l^!8'■>  "  Lc  Guide  Fran^'ais  de  la  Nouvelle  Angleterre" 
published  in  Lowell,  JNIass.,  divided  the  French  Caiuidians 
as  follows:  INIassachusetts  145,078;  jNIaine,  51,488;  New- 
Hampshire  38,414  ;  KhoJo  Island32,874  ;  Vermont  31,814  ; 
Connecticut  24, -J-'U.  This  would  give  a  total  of  323,002 
for  the  New  England  states. 

UEtciifhtrd,  published  a  letter  from  Vermont,  in  which 
the  number  320,000  is  given  as  being  moi'e  accurate.  The 
whole  Koman  Catholic  population  is  said  to  number  1)56,000. 
The  French  would  thus  constitute  more  than  a  third  of  the 
Roman  Catholics  of  New  England.  They  have  an  abso- 
lute majority  in  the  dioceses  of  Burlington,  Po'-tland  and 
IManchester.  The  year  these  figures  were  gathered,  in  the 
New  Hampshire  legislature  there  were  no  less  than  six 
French  Canadian  representatives. 

In  the  state  ot  New  York  there  are  87,940  of  this  nation- 
ality. This  brings  the  French  Canadian  population  of  New 
England  and  New  York  to  413,942. 

In  the  West  they  are  found  in  large  numbers.     The  state 


:  I 


III 


ft 


30  Your  Heritafje. 

of  Illinois  is  said  to  have  100,000  ;  Michigan  45,000  ;  Minne- 
sota 45,000  ;  Dakota,  California  and  ^Montana  25,000  each. 
In  Wisconsin,  Indiana  and  other  states  r),000  could  be 
found. 

These  figures,  which  are  not  overestimated,  will  give  an 
idea  of  the  problem  we  are  dealing  with. 

But  there  are  other  most  important  facts  to  l)e  weighed 
at  this  point,  because  of  their  importance. 

The  idea  has  j)revaik'd  in  the  past,  that  this  tide  of  im- 
migration had  about  reached  its  height  and  that  many 
thousands  of  Canadians  were  in  fact  returning  to  their  na- 
tive homes. 

We  will  touch  the  latter  point  later  on,  while  speaking 
of  the  aims  and  purposes  of  the  French. 

Figures  prove  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt,  that  for  the 
last  iifteen  vears  there  has  been  a  constant  increase,  both 
by  inunigration  and  by  propagation.  There  is  every  reason 
to  think  that  the  future  will  not  be  different.  The  same 
causes  will  produce  the  same  results. 

What  has  been  the  great  cause  of  this  large  influx  of  Ca- 
nadians ? 

A  great  many  j)eoplc  in  this  country  attribute  it  to  the 
untavorable  natural  conditions  of  the  country,  to  its  res- 
tricted territorial  limits,  to  the  barrenness  of  its  soil,  to  the 
rigor  of  its  climate,  and  other  causes  ot  the  saiuc  category. 
They  think  of  Canada  in  the  same  way  as  Voltaire  once 
did  when  he  declared  it  was  not  worth  while  for  France  to 
be  fighting  over  a  few  acres  of  snow. 

No  greater  mistake  could  be  made.  Canada  is  one  of 
the  finest  countries  on  this  continent.  Territorially  it  is 
larger  than  the  United  States.  It  has  a  vast  area  of  rich 
and  productive  soil.  Ontario  and  the  North-West  abound 
in  the  finest  of  wheat  farms  and  other  productive  lands. 


Its  Numerical  Strength.  'M 

The  great  rivers  of  Caiuulu  are  too  well  known  lo  be 
mentioned,  and  their  numberless  tributaries  are  only  a  little 
less  magnilicont,  oti'ering  water-power&'  unequalled  any- 
where. 

The  forests  have  no  doubt  been  stripped  of  much  mar- 
ketable wood.  Still  they  are  yet  rich  in  pine  and  other  va- 
luable timber.  Ivicii  and  abundant  mines  are  being  dis- 
covered everywhere. 

The  climate  is  by  no  means  as  objectionable  as  is  suppo- 
sed. In  the  West  it  is  as  mild  as  here,  and  the  clear,  sharp, 
but  dry  cold  air  of  (Quebec  is  fir  more  healthy  than  the 
damp  and  catarrhal  air  ol  New  Kngland.  Nothing  is  want- 
ing to  make  Canada  a  great  country,  so   far  as   natural   re- 


sources go. 


It  is  not  here  that  we  must  look  for  the  cause  of  the  won- 
derful exodus  of  French  Canadians  to  New  England.  Are 
we  asked  wherein  it  lies?  We  answer  unhesitatingly  :  In 
the  most  extraordinary  exactions  of  the  Church  of  Rome. 
If  1,000,000  of  these  peo{)le  have  left  the  country  they  love 
very  dearly,  it  is  because  they  are  simi)ly  crushed  by  what 
has  been  called  ai)tly,  the  "ecclesiastical  machine."  To  use 
the  words  of  Principal  MacVicar  of  the  Presbyterian  Col- 
lege, Montreal,  it  is  because  the  Province  of  Quebec 
is  under  the  entire  control  of  a  "strong,  enormously 
wealthy,  well-endowed,  tithe-collecting,  taxes-leying,  Bible- 
burning  and  confessedly  intolerant  corporation,  to  which 
time-serving  politicians  bow  the  knee." 

In  Quebec  the  Church  is  distinctly  established  by  law. 
If  the  British  goverimient  had  better  understood  the  power 
ot  Jesuitism  to  enslave  a  Protestant  colony,  it  would  have 
been  a  little  more  careful  in  the  drafting  of  the  Articles  of 
Capitulation  at  the  time  of  the  conquest  of  Canada  in  175'J. 
It  must  be  said  however,  that  the  treaty  did  not  effect  any 


32 


'onr 


lent 


a<j> 


•I ' 


legal  estahli.shineut  of  tlie  flmrcli.  The  article  bearing  osi 
this  point  rearls  thus  :  *' The  Catholic  itihabitaiits  of  Caii- 
ada  are  granted  the  (vii^  exercise  of  the  Uoniisii  religion, 
the  ol)ligation  of  paying  tithes  to  the  priest  to  depend  upon 
the  King's  pleasure." 

Neither  did  the  Treaty  of  Peace  of  July  10,  17G.'>  es- 
tablish the  church.  It  simply  stipulated  that  ""His  Brit- 
tanic  Majesty  would  give  the  uiostert'ectual  orders  that  his  new 


Catholic  sub 


diip  of  their  rel 


jir  religion 


/atholic  sui)jects  might  protess  the  worslnp  o 
according  to  the  rights  of  the  Romish  church  as   far  as   tiie 
laws  (jf  Great  Eritain  permit." 

All  this  was  but  fair.  But  Rduie  is  cunning  and  far- 
seeing.  She  is  always  sure  ti)  secure  legislation  of  the  kind 
that  will  be  useful  to  her  when  the  public  mind  is  tixed  on 
other  matters.  It  was  in  this  way  that  she  obtained  the 
Imperial  Act  of  1774  which  tixed  unmistakably  the  legal 
status  of  the  church  in  (Quebec.  The  clergy  were  fully  em- 
powered to  collect  tithes  and  to  levy  taxes  for  church  })ur- 
poses  as  they  may  deem  necessary,  without  the  voice  of  the 
people. 

It  is  thought  that  the  chiu'ch  has  exceeded  her  rights  in 
the  directioji  of  tithes  and  taxes.  That  the  Act  ot  177-i 
only  contemplated  the  parishes  and  seignories  that  then  ex- 
isted. But  she  ha-!  been  forming  new  parishes.  The 
Protestant  element  has  been  driven  away  from  many  parts 
of  the  country,  by  means  we  have  not  time  to  give  here  in 
detail.  Protestant  farms  have  been  bought  by  people  who 
had  always  been  considered  penniless — probably  bought  by 
clerical  money  and  mortgaged  to  the  church — and  these 
Protestant  districts  have  become  Roman  Catholic  parishes. 
New  Glasgow  has  become  Ste.  Sophie  La  Come  and  so 
forth.  Then  the  new  parish  has  become  subject  to  the 
tilheing  and  taxing  system,  contrary  as  it  is  thought,  to  the 


1 


'     Its  Numti'iad  Strtmjth.  38 

JmpL'riul  A(;t.  11"  it  hi;  aski'd  why  tlie  Provincial  jjjoverii- 
muiit  does  not  sU)[)  these  alnises,  wliich  burden  the  pecjple 
iiud  drive  them  uwjiy,  the  unssvL-r  is  vei-y  simple.  Tho 
iiierurchy  control  iihsolutely  tin-  letrislature.  To  oj)j)ose  in 
the  least  way  the  cluwch  would  mean  sure  death. 

The  tithes  are  an  annual  source  of  inunensc  revenue  to 
the  priests.  Kvery  twenty-sixtli  bushel  of  grain  is  his  Ijy 
law.  For  over  a  century  peas  were  counted  vegetables 
and  thus  exemj)ted.  l>ut  win  ii  tin'  priest  found  out  that 
the  haJtifmif  was  cunning  enough  to  sow  more  peas  than 
anything  else,  he  had  this  vegi'ialde  converted  by  the  I'ope's 
j)ower,  into  a  grain.  likewise  in  the  disti-ict  of  Three 
llivers,  which  is  a  good  hay  couiuy,  the  oppi-essed  farmer 
sought  relief  from  taxation  by  cultivating  hay.  Hut  the 
priests  obtained  from  Uishop  Lafleche  a  lew  years  ago.  the 
imposition  of  a  tax  of  ?52  a  ton  on  that  artii'le. 

There  'vas  a  good  deal  of  grumbling  but  as  is  generally 
the  case  in  all  priest-ridden  countries,  the  people  submit  led 
as  a  general  rule. 

Caiuulian  papers  inform  us  lately,  that  tlie  bishop 
having  found  out  that  many  farmers  were  still  dodg- 
ing their  annual  tithes,  by  devoting  their  attention  very 
largely  to  hay  raising,  has  renewed  the  o-dcr  for 
a  tax  of  37.50  on  each  1000  bundles  of  hay,  which 
is  practically  tlie  same  as  that  ot  18'S1.  It  would  seem  that 
other  bishops  will  follow  his  example.  The  farmers  are 
stirred  up  all  over  the  proviiu'e,  as  the  tax  will  make  the 
church  more  wealthy  and  powerful  than  ever.  The  result 
will  be  increased  immigration  to  the  United  States,  where 
people  are  not  obliged  to  pay  for  their  religion  unless  they 
choose  to. 

If  the  farmers  had  only  a  little  more  backbone,  they 
would  refuse  to  submit,  and  as  hay  does  not  come  under 


*  <■' 


i 


84  Fo/o'    ITeritat/e. 

the  re(iuiremeiits  of  the  old  hiw,  the  churcli  eoultl  not  com- 
pel them  to  i)tiy. 

If  tlie  titlu'S  covered  everything,  the  farmers*  would  be 
Hiitislied.  I)Ut  this  is  only  a  f»nuill  i)()rti(»n  of  the  cost  of 
their  reli^'ion.  The  pew-rents  are  very  hi;j:h  and  must  be 
paid  or  the  people  stand  durinjj;  service.  Tiie  taxes  for  the 
erection  of  those  palatial  ecclesiastical  buildings  which  fairly 
cover  the  Province,  standinj^  as  they  du,  side  by  side  with 
the  miserably  poor  huts  of  the  people,  are  enormous.  Peo- 
ple have  told  me  they  were  working  hard  'n  the  factories 
li'Tc  to  get  money  In  redeem  their  I'arms  wliich  they  had 
mortgagi'd  to  pay  the  church  taxes. 

Then  come  the  exi)enses  for  baj)tisms,  the  ringing  of  one, 
two  oi-  three  bells  according  to  the  money  })aid  ;  the  expense 
at  funerals,  which  varies  from  Si.')  to  $.')()().  A  pauper  can- 
not be  biu'ied  for  less  than  $1.  The  cotlhi  is  then  j)laced 
as  near  the  ground  as  possible;  a  half  dozen  candles  are 
lit,  a  low  mass  sung  and  perhaps  one  bell  rung  or 
none  at  all. 

I  asked  a  French  Canadian  last  Binumer  how  nmch  an 
ordinary  funeral  cost  among  the  poor.  He  said:  ''You 
camicjt  get  a  decent  service  from  the  church  for  less  than 
SKi."  Let  it  be  well  understood  that  this  is  exclusive  of 
all  outside  expense. 

There  are  thousands  of  other  ways  by  which  money  is 
extorted  from  an  ignorant,  credulous  people.  The  trallic 
of  masses  for  suuls  detained  in  an  imaginary  purgatory, 
the  sale  of  indulgences,  scapularies,  holy  water  and  other 
innumerable  papal  inventions  of  which  it  is  impos.  to 

form  the  remotest  conception  without  1  i  a  Roman 

Catholic  country,  simply  drain  the  peo]  aake  and  '    ep 

them  poor.     Pinched  by  poverty,  discou.    red  an  I  disheart- 
ened thov  leave  with  tears  their  homes. 


lis  Nnnivrical  Straiytli.  35 

It  is  iin})<).".sil)le  lo  arrive  at  anything  like  accuracy, 
when  attoiu{)tiii<,'  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  revenue  and 
weahh  of  the  (-iiurch  in  the  Prf)vince  of  Quebec.  Several 
attempts  have  been  made  and  we  give  below  one  of  the 
hitest  made  by  the  Kev.  A.  B.  Cruchet,  ex-pastur  of  I'Eglisc 
du  Sauveur,  Montreal,  Que.  Mr.  Cruciiet,  in  an  article 
pul)li.shed  in  li^i'^W,  in  the  Revue  de  Thculogiv  ^'ratiijut  of 
Pari.s,  gives  the  figures  which  follow.  The  ..nuimite  is  ne- 
cessarily exclusive  of  many  items  concerning  which  the 
writer  could  not  obtain  information,  because  the  church  re- 
fuses to  make  reports. 

It  may  also  be  said  that  Mr.  Cruchet  underestimates  sev- 
eral sources  of  income.  Ii;  a  conversation  we  had  together, 
he  stated  that  a  distinguisl-.ed  priest  had  written  him,  blam- 
ing him  for  arraigning  the  chnrch  as  he  had  done,  and 
stating  that  its  wealth  was  intinitely  larger  than  stated  by 
him.     Tile  computation  is  as  follows  : — 

''The  number  of  farms  under  cultivation  in  the  Province 
of  Quebec  is  estimated  at  200,000.  Many  of  those  pro- 
duce barely  enough  to  give  bread  to  the  numerous  familu's 
who  cultivate  them.  We  may  form  an  opinion  by  the  fol- 
lowing statement : 

"  1.  Tiie  Province  of  Quebec  produces  a  total  of  31,280,- 
000  bushels  valued  at  818,200,000,  yielding  a  "dime," 
or  tithe  of  $700,000. 

"2.  Taxes  on  families  who  do  not  possess  land,  amount- 
ing to  not  less  than  §300,000. 

"3.  Fees  for  baptisms,  marriages,  funerals  and  masses, 
payments  for  pew-rents  and  objects  of  piety,  yielding  not 
less  than  62,000,000. 

"4.  Voluntary  gifts  received  from  house  to  house, 
legacies  derived  from  property  of  unknown  extent  held  in 
mort  main,  all  put  together  probably  exceeding  83,000,000. 


I 

I 

t 

i 


w 


(I!! 


30  Your  Heritage. 

"  ').  Taxes  for  construction  and  maintenance  ot  churches, 
prt'shytei'ics  and  Fabrique  schools  amounting  to  at  least 
82, GOO, 000. 

"TliL'  Homisii  church,  therefore,  receives  on  an  average 
annually,  from  200,000  Catholic  families  in  Quebec,  the 
enormous  sum  of  §.S,000,000,  for  the  exclusive  ends  of  their 
•vvorsiii)),  that  is  to  say,  for  the  maintenance  of  ilOO  parishes, 
at  Si'^-OOO  i;ach.  This  seems  incredible.  The  ligures,  are 
far  fiom  giving  a  (complete  idea  of  the  revenues  of  the 
church  in  our  happy  province."  ISIr.  Blackburn  llarte, 
in  nu  article  in  the  November  number  of  the  Forum, 
states  that  the  revenue  of  the  church,  inclusive  of  tithes, 
f(ihri<iiii'  taxes,  and  sacramental  fees,  amoimts  to  more  than 
Sl2,000,000  a  year.  Tiie  property  of  the  church  is  valued 
at  8120.000,000. 

So  mucli  for  the  amount  which  the  Roman  Catiiolics  of 
the  Province  ai'e  oliliged  to  j)ay  yearly  to  the  clergy. 

The  ^Montreal  ]r//;/'N.s  gives  the  following  inventory  of 
the  property  ot  the  church,  wiiich  it  probably  takes  from 
Mr.  Cruchct's  .irticle,  tiince  the  figures  are  the  same. 

"In  17r>*J  she  received  2,117,000  acres  of  land,  which 
valuable  possession  has  since  been  greatly  added  to  by  pro- 
perty gained  by  di{)l(unacy  ai.cl  continual  begging  and  by 
the  natural  increase  in  the  value  of  certain  kinds  of  real 
estate. 

"  She  owns  000  chin-ches,  valued  at  8.'57,O0O,000 ;  900 
parsoiuiges  along  with  the  palaces  of  the  cardinal,  the  arch- 
bishops and  bishops,  valued  at  89,000,000;  12  seminaries 
worth  8(500,000;  17  classical  colleges,  88r)0,000 ;  250 
boarding  schools  and  academies,  8000,000  ;  800  convents, 
84,000,000  :  08  hospitals  atul  asylums,  84,000,000;  mak- 
ing a  total  of  861,210,000. 

"As  to  the  lands,  shops,  houses  and  invested  capital,  it 


I'       '  ! 


Its  Namti'ical  Stnuyth. 


37 


is  imj)ossiblc  to  reach  absolute  certainty.  We  know  that 
some  ecclesiastical  orders  are  enormously  wealthy.  Cath- 
olics themselves  declare  that  the  Sulpicians  for  example, 
are  richer  than  the  Bank  of  Montreal,  the  most  powerful 
institution  of  the  kind  in  America." 

Wlicn  it  is  remembered  that  tiiese  enormous  sums  of 
money  arc  taken,  so  to  speak,  by  furce,  from  the  people, 
we  need  not  go  further  to  ascertain  the  reason  for  this  ex- 
traordinary exodus  of  French  Canadians  to  New  England. 

Neither  should  we  be  surprised  to  Jind  such  statements 
as  the  following  in  the  (Quebec  Aiiuual  Census  Keport 
of  1S87:— 

"In  tliirty-three  counties  there  has  been  an  actual  de- 
cline in  the  poj)uiaiion  to  the  extent  of  42,000  souls.  In 
twenty-nine  counties  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  pop- 
ulation, amounting  to  r>2,000  souls;  showing  a  balance  of 
10,000  increase." 

Tlie  report  goes  on  to  show,  however,  that  this  increase 
is  sinij)ly  due  to  the  overflow  of  people  from  Montreal,  the 
opening  up  to  settlement  of  tlu;  Gatineau  valley,  the  growth 
ofllidland  the  construction  of  the  C^iu^bec  Central  rail- 
road through  the  county  of  Megantic,  the  increase  in  the 
municipalities  of  Ilocholaga,  Ottawa  and  INIegantic  being 
over  20,000.  A  carel'iil  comparison  of  tigiu-es  shows  that 
between  l^Hl  and  if^Hl  the  province  of  C^uebec  lost  the 
whole  of  the  natural  increase  of  her  riu'al  ])opulation, 
which  is  estimated  at  something  like  175,000.  The  report 
concludes  by  saying  : — 

"The  conclusion  to  be  drawn  from  these  figures  is,  that 
in  spite  of  the  (/pening  up  of  new  lauds  the  time  has  come 
when  the  population  of  Queltoc  has  ceased  to  increase  in 
numbers,  and  that  the  great  natural  increase  of  the  French 


- 

1 

■■       i 

■:.      1 

1 

1 
1      ' 

1 

;  1 

; 

. 

1  i 

It 

88  Your  Heritage. 

Canadian  race  will  of  necessity  be  forced  to  find   a  home 
beyond  the  borders  of  this  Province." 

I  have  dw^elt  at  length  on  these  facts  and  figures,  because 
they  give  us  most  important  data  :  First,  the  approximate 
actual  strength  of  the  French  Canadians  in  this  country  ; 
secondly,  the  cause  of  their  immigration  ;  thirdly,  we  are 
enabled  to  form  a  tolerably  accurate  idea  as  to  what  New 
England  can  expect  for  the  future. 


lit' 


CHAPTER   VI. 


ITS    I'KOBAIJLE    FITUUK    (iliOW'TII. 


Ill  wliiit  lia.s  nreeedeil,  wc  have  (miIv  liiiite<l  at  the  nroba 


pr( 


])ilitics  uf  iiKTcase  of  the  French  jnMipK'  in  New  Kiighind. 
The  facts  wo  have  in  liaiid  are  sutHclent  to  convince  us,  that 
the  j^rowtli  will  necessarily  be,  not  only  constant,  but  steady, 
and  in  increasinf^  proportiitn  from  year  to  year. 

To  begin  with,  the  condition  of  things  in  (Quebec,  depict- 
ed in  the  preceding  chapter,  not  only  remains  to-day,  but 
is  worse  than  it  ever  has  been  probably  in  the  history  of  the 
nation. 

The  Dominion  as  well  as  the  provincial  pai'liaments,  are 
the  docile  slaves  of  the  Romish  hierarchy.  In  (Quebec  the 
Protestants  are  laboring  under  disabilities  in  various  res- 
pects, for  instance  in  the  matter  of  taxation  for  scdiool  pur- 
poses. In  Montreal  no  less  than  810,000  of  Protestant 
money  is  given  to  Ronian  Catholic  schools,  and  no  redress 
can  be  obtained.  If  the  Dominion  Parliament  be  appealed 
to,  it  is  found  convenient  to  hide  behind  the  often  shallow 
pretense  of  provincial  rights  and  autonomy.      Rome  controls 


It' 


! 


Si"'  ■ 


40  Your  Ileritufje. 

the  politics  of  British  Protestant  Canada,  just  .is  she  will 
rule  New  England  ere  long,  it'  the  latter  does  not  soon 
awake  out  of  her  sluiTiix-r. 

This  being  the  case,  the  French  Canadians,  especially  the 
poorer  classes,  need  expect  no  relief.  The  clergy,  aided 
by  self-seeking  andunj)rincipled  politicians,  will  continue  to 
enrich  themselves  on  the  very  life-blood  of  this  down-trod- 
den and  oppressed  populati(»n. 

Ttie  cause  which  has  pi'oduced  so  large  an  immigration 
in  a  comparatively  short  period  of  years,  being  intensitied 
to-dav,  the  exodus  will  continue  and  will  be  all  the  liir<jrer. 

Last  September  the  papers  of  Canada  announced  that  the 
cr()})s  in  the  region  below  (Quebec  were  almost  a  total  fail- 
ure. IJccause  of  this  a  large  exodus  was  expected  to  the 
!Ni:w  England  states.  The  government  was  urged  to  take 
mcasui'cs  to  furnish  \\n:'.i  to  the  people,  that  they  ini^ht  be 
retained  in  the  country.  ^ 

Those  will)  will  take  the  trouble  to  step  iiUo  a  Centi-al 
Vermont  (tr  Connecticut  River  ti'uin  coming  from  White 
Kiver  .Junction,  almost  anv  dav,  will  hiid  it  crowded  with 
French  Canadians  on  their  way  to  New  England  cities. 

In  the  second  place,  many  of  the  juembers  of  the  clergy, 
seem  of  late  to  have  changed  their  tactics.  Instead  of  dis- 
couraging the  people  fi'om  crossing  the  lines,  they  rather 
encourage  them.  It  may  not  be  accm'ate  to  say  that  they 
foster  this  inunigration,  but  it  is  true  that  the  o})position  to 
it  is  by  no  means  what  it  used  to  be. 

The  ri'ason  is  simple  enough.  The  French  clergy  con- 
trol Canada  through  the  province  of  Quebec.  The  Cana- 
dian race  is  so  proliiic  that  even  if  they  do  lose,  as  has  been 
shown,  thousands  each  year,  they  still  can  command  a  suili- 
cient  majtu'ity  to  hold  the  reins  of  power. 

Now  they  'nave  designs  on   New   England.     Bishop   La- 


Its  Future  Probable  Growth. 


41 


(leflie  of  Three  Rivera,  visited  New  Knglaiul  some  time  ago, 
uikI  was  amazed  at  the  growth  of  the  French  Kumaii  Ca- 
tholic church  in  these  Puritan  states.  This  visit  has  led 
him  to  take  a  look  into  the  dim  distant  future  of  North 
America. 

He  does  not  believe  that  Canada  will  ever  bi;  annexed  to 
the  United  States,  but  rather  that  a  portion  of  the  United 
States  will  be  aui.exed  to  Canada.  In  the  more  or  less  dis- 
tant future,  for  causes  already  apparent,  the  American  Ke- 
jiublic  will  be  divided  into  several  independent  states,  and 
New  England  annexed  to  (.Quebec  to  form  a  great  French 
Catholic  inde{)end<;nt  state.  For  this  reason  he  l)elieves 
that  Providence  has  some  wise  purpixsc  in  view  in  allowing 
the  emigration  of  so  many  French  Canadians  from  (.Quebec 
to  New  Kngland  to  continue,  despite  the  efforts  in  the  past 
of  statesmen  and  clergy  to  prevent  it.  He  is  satislied  that 
the  French  Canadian  element  has  taken  root  in  the  land  of 
the  Puritans,  and  is  making  great  headway,  both  in  num- 
l)ers  and  influence.  He  no  longer  feels  at  libertv  to  discou- 
rage  the  immigration  juovement. 

Moreover,  caveful  observation  has  convinced  these  men, 
that  French  Ultramontanism  runs  no  particular  danger  in 
Protestant  New  England  as  matters  are  now  developing. 
The  chances  are  in  manv  respects  fa\oral)le  to  that  system. 
So  long  as  the  thousands  of  French  children  thr.t  now  till 
our  cities,  can  be  kepi  out  of  the  Amei'ican  pultlii'  schools, 
and  placed  in  French  Uomasi  Catholic  parochial  schools, 
which  are  a  fac-simile  ot  the  institutions  of  (Quebec,  taught 
by  French  imns,  largely  in  French,  and  in  the  old  ruts,  they 
will  develop  into  a  French  Canadian  Ultramontane  colony. 

We  hope,  for  New  England's  sake,  that  the  day  is  not  far 
distant  when  the  people  of  this  land  will  understand,  that 
our  foreign  populations  will  not  bo  converted  to  true  Prot- 


•A-^  Your  Herita'jii. 

testant,  American  principles,  througli  the  lungs,  but 
thr(jii<j;h  the  brains  and  heart. 

Wlicn  warning  optimistic  Americans  of  coming  dangers, 
I  have  been  told  scores  of  times  :  "There  is  something  in 
our  air  which  Komanism  cannot  resist.  The  French  Cana- 
dians will  iall  in  with  our  way  of  thinking." 

The  educative  power  of  New  Enghmd,  we  ansv/cr,  is  not 
in  its  damp  air,  which  has  had  the  eU'ect  of  giving  the 
French  Canadians  ''la  grippe",  without  making  Ultramcjn- 
tanism  lose  its  grip  on  their  intelligence  and  conscience. 

It  is  in  your  instituticnis  that  education  of  th  ^  right  kind 
is  to  be  found;  but  these  educate  those  only  who  enter  them. 
We  will  discuss  these  points  later  on.  Siitlice  it  to  say 
that  the  priests  who  know  the  state  of  things  among  the 
Fren(,'h  of  this  country,  are  pretty  well  satisticd  with  the 
steady  growth  of  their  power  and  influence  over  these 
masses. 

lint  there  is  a  third  reason  why  the  French  population 
will  soon  have  doulilcd  itself  in  this  country,  nanu'Iy  its 
marvelous  power  (d  reproduction.  The  race  is  certainly 
one  of  the  most  j)rolific  on  this  continent. 

The  clergy  have  nnudi  to  do  with  the  natural  grf)wth  of 
the  race.  There  was  a  rich  mine  to  explore  here,  and  it 
has  been  worked  for  all  it  is  worth.  Early  marriages  ai'C 
encouraged  ;  boys  and  girls  of  fifteen  and  sixteen  are  made 
man  and  wife.  As  a  residt,  large  families  of  children  are 
raised.  In  fact  necessity  is  laid  uj)on  them  to  raise  a  largo 
family  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  church.  Special  dis- 
coiu'ses  are  given  on  these  subjects  by  priests  a{)pointed  for 
that  pur})osc,  to  men  alone,  then  to  women,  and  to  boys 
and  girls.  We  learn  from  reliable  persons  who  were  pre- 
sent on  some  ot  th<.se  special  occasions,  that  the  most  inde- 
licate things  are  said  by  the  bachelor  priest. 


7^4!  Future  Probahle  Growth.  48 

Of  late  most  extraordinary  figures  have  been  found,  which 
must  impress  Now  Enj^hmders  in  a  peculiar  way,  accus- 
tomed as  they  are  to  tiieir  small  families  of  one  or  two 
children,  and  lead  them  to  reflect. 

The  family  of  ten  or  twelve  children,  instead  of  being 
uncommon  among  the  French  Ciinadians,  is  of  very  fre- 
quent occurrence.  We  might  say  it  was  the  rule  instead 
of  the  exception. 

I  have  known  of  families  of  fifteen,  eijrhteen  and  twenty 
children.  In  the  village  of  lierthier,  where  I  lived  many 
years,  there  were  born  in  a  family  of  one  union,  twenty- 
six  children.  The  good  mother  could  not  very  well  sec 
why  there  should  not  be  a  tithe  on  the  children  as  well  as 
on  the  grain.  She  thought  the  twenty-sixth  child  might 
as  well  be  given  to  the  priest  as  the  twenty-sixth  bushel  of 
grain.  She  therefore  gave  her  last  child  to  the  parish  {)riest 
and  thought  there  would  be  a  suflicient  number  left  in  the 
home  to  give  her  occupation. 

The  Hon.  INIr.  INIcrcier,  Premier  of  the  Province  of  Que- 
bec, offered  through  his  govcrnu  ent,  a  bonus  of  100  sicres 
of  land  to  every  thirteenth  child  in  a  family.  This  has 
brought  out  some  wonderful  statistics. 

In  the  county  of  Kamuuraska,  there  was  found  a  family 
with  twenty-three  children  around  the  table.  In  anotiier 
family  thirty-five  were  born  to  one  father,  this  by  two  mar- 


riages. 


There  liave  been  so  many  applications  for  the  land  offered, 
that  the  Premier  is  afraid  he  may  have  to  call  for  a  halt, 
lest  tlie  crown  lands  of  the  Province  become  too  soon  ex- 
hausted ! 

The  French  papers  gave  some  time  ago  a  remarkable  in- 
stance which  illustrates  the  fecundity  of  the  Canadian  race. 

There  resides  at  Middleton,  Mass., — unless  he  has  «lied 


i! 


5: 


pi 

w 
1ft 


44  Your  IJcrifaijc. 

recently, — u  French  Canadian,  named  Charles  Roy,  wlui 
reached  his  107th  year  on  the  1.5th  of  January  last.  He 
is  rej)()rted  as  being  still  hale  and  fresh.  Ho  spent  102 
years  of  his  life  in  Canada,  losing  his  wife  lifteen  yeais 
ago,  when  she  was  ei;j;hty-four. 

From  this  union  were  born  fourteen  children,  nine  of 
which  are  still  alive.  The  second  of  these,  under  whose 
r(jof  dwells  the  old  patriarch,  is  seventy-eight  years  of  age. 
He  is  the  father  of  sixteen  children.  The  families  of  the 
other  children  arc  as  follows  :  Charles  has  had  twelve  chil- 
dren ;  Michel,  fourteen ;  Auguste,  fotirteen  ;  Francois, 
thirteen  ;  Pierre,  fifteen  ;  Rose,  nine  ;  Joseph,  live.  Sev- 
eral of  the  grand-children  have  married  and  even  some  of 
the  great-M'and-children.  In  all,  it  is  said  that  the  Roy 
ianiily  numbers  no  less  than  700  souls.  If  this  is  not  phe- 
nomenal fecundity,  what  is? 

In  17(53,  the  French  numbered  about  70,000  in  Canada. 
During  the  last  152  years  the  increase  has  been  1.434  per 
cent  or  fourteen  to  one.  At  this  same  rate  of  increase  the 
French  population  will  immber  9,000,000  in  (Quebec  in 
fifty  years. 

I^remier  INIercier's  estimate  of  the  French  population  in 
Canada  and  the  United  States  for  18'J1,  is  as  follows:  In 
Quebec  the  census  will  give  1,240,154.  In  the  other  pro- 
vinces 281), 4.'U,  making  a  total  of  1  ,.')28,r)85  for  Canada. 
If  we  put  down  the  French  Canadians  of  this  country  at 
1,000,000  this  will  give  us  2,r)28,r)85  for  the  two  countries. 

If  the  increase  goes  on  in  the  same  proportion,  in  fifty 
years  there  will  be,  in  the  two  countries,  between  fifteen 
and  eighteen  millions  French-speaking  people. 

The  question  becomes  all  the  more  serious  when  we  con- 
sider the  state  of  things  among  New  Englanders  in  relation 
to  the  growth  of  the  population. 


Its  Future  Probable  Growth 


45 


Careful  observation  shows,  that  the  nmnl)er  of  bach- 
elor;*,  among  the  Yankees,  is  beconiii)^  luri^er  and  hirger 
each  year.  This  means  that  the  New  EnirhuHl  homes  of 
the  type  you  need  to  maintain  your  national  life  are  not  in- 
creasing in  anything  like  the  ratio  of  the  homes  of  Honian 
Catholic  foreigners. 

Add  to  this,  another  most  significant  fact.  The  race  of 
native  New  Englanders  is  fast  dying  out,  because  even  ni 
these  few  new  homes  reared,  there  is  a  conspicuous  absence 
of  children.  The  decadence  of  the  Yankee  family  is  a  very 
sorry  fact  that  cannot  be  denied. 

The  last  census  of  Vermont  shows  a  small  increase  of 
200  over  18<S0.  The  suj)ervisor  of  the  census  adds  that  the 
increase  in  the  number  of  taxal)le  jjoUs,  would  have  given 
tlie  state  a  gain  of  10,000  to  I."), 000,  if  other  things  had 
lieen  equal.  liut  the  vital  statistics  show  that  the  births 
luive  diminished  enough  to  oH'set  the  gains  in  population 
iri.ni  other  sources. 

Tlie  liurlington  Free  Press  exj)resses  itself  in  the  follow- 
ing terms  :  ''The  Yankees  of  earlier  days  ol)eyed  the  di- 
vine command  to  increase  and  nudtiply.  Then  the  hills 
and  valleys  of  Vermont  were  jx'opled  with  those  ot  the 
same  race.  Now  the  native-born  familv  of  half  a  dozen 
chiMren  in  Vermont  is  considered  a  noteworthy  affair,  and 
families  numbering  ten  or  a  dozen  children,  once  no  un- 
conunon  thing,  are  now  so  rare  as  to  be  altogether  unknown 
in  many  sections.  In  the  light  of  these  facts  brought  out 
by  the  census  of  181)0  must  we  conclude  that  the  race  of 
native  Veriuonters  is  dying  out?  It  certainly  looks  that 
way." 

The  Springfield  Union ^  commenting  on  the  same  important 
question  says :  "  This  falling  off  in  the  birth  rate  of  the 
Yankee  stock  is  a  sorry  fact  and  Vermont  is  not  the  only 


46  your  lIc.riUKjc. 

sufferer.  Thirty  years  ago  the  average  size  of  Yankee  fam- 
ilies was  much  hirger  than  it  is  to-day  and  tlie  figure  has 
been  gra(huilly  dropjjing  till  now  a  family  of  four  or  five 
children  is  regarded  as  about  iill  a  father  and  mother  want 
to  take  care  of.  Lack  of  physical  stamina  cannot  fully  ac- 
count for  the  change.  Nor  is  it  entirely  chargeable  to 
moral  decadence  except  so  iar  as  the  primeval  connnand  of 
God  to  tiie  huma!)  race  is  h-ss  ipgarded.  Those  who  arc 
most  able  to  suj)port  ;ind  train  large  families  are  content 
with  one  or  two  children,  and  plead  their  social  burdens  in 
mitigation  of  their  default.  The  question  of  pcrpctiuiting 
the  Yankee  stock  is  becoming  a  serious  one  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  those  of  foreign  birth  who  conic  to  u>  in  increasing 
numbers,  have  not  adopted  our  fashi(.n,  and  in  a  generation 
or  two  will  greatly  (.utinnuber  us  by  purely  natural  increase." 
The  Hartfort  /*o,s7,  in  a  reci'nt  article  cntitK-d  "An  Im- 
portant Factor,"  calls  attention  to  the  same  (juesiion  in  the 
following  terms  :  "The  statement  is  made  on  good  author- 
ity that  the  French  Canadians  living  near  the  \'erniont  line 
are  forming  (u-ganizati(.ns  with  a  view  of  obtaining  many 
of  the  abandoned  farms  of  this  State  and  also  of  New 
Hampshire.  It  is  believed  there  will  be  a  considerable  em- 
igration from  tlu!  lower  ])art  of  Canada  into  the  State 
and  New  Hampshire  with  the  coming  of  the  spring.  Just 
what  the  authority  is  on  which  this  ytatenn'iit  is  made  we 
have  no  means  of  knowing,  but  there  is  nothing  at  all  un- 
likely in  the  story.  French  Canadians  already  own  many 
farms  in  Northern  New  Kngland.  They  are  a  thrifty  peo- 
ple, and  contrive  to  live  where  a  modern  Yankee  would 
starve.  But  of  more  importance  than  anything  else  in  this 
connection  is  the  fact  that  the  French  Canadians  have  chil- 
dren and  that  these  children  are  brought  up  to  work  hard. 
It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  roofs  of  the  New  England 


//.s'  Future  Vrohnhh-  Grotcth.  47 

farm  houses  which  shchcr  Yankee  fanners  Hhclter  a  very 
.-mall  niunl)er  of  Yankee  babies,  and  that  as  the  years  go 
by  the  babies  thus  sheltered  are  decreasing  and  not  increas- 
ing in  nundjers.  In  the  less  pretentious  houses  of  the 
French  Canadians  near  by,  are  to  be  found  swarms  of 
children,  who  are  made  to  work  and  who  generally  stand 
liy  the  farm  much  longer  than  the  boys  and  girls  of  Yan- 
kee parentage.  \Vhatever  may  be  the  final  outcome  of 
New  England's  problem  so  far  as  the  farms  iiiid  tarmers 
are  concerned,  one  thing  must  In-  kept  constantly  in  mind, 
and  that  isjthat  if  the  New  Kngland  farmers  want  to  see 
the  New  England  farms  re-peopkd  by  Yankee  stock,  they 
nuist  raise  the  stock.  The  baby,  a  very  important  factor 
in  the  family,  is  an  f([ually  important  factor  in  the  Ni-w 
England  proldem." 

It  is  imp»)ssible  to  avoid  tiie  conclusion  that  .\i\v  l-".n- 
gland  will  soon  be  in  the  hands  of  those  who  an-  conciuer- 
ing  by  occupying.  The  French  and  Irish  populaiion  will 
soon  outnund)er  the  Yankees.  What  [he  inlhieiice  w  ill  l)e, 
will  depend  very  much  upon  the  education  they  receive,  on 
the  political  and  religious  principles  by  which  they  are  con- 
trolled. Jfthe  plans  and  aims  of  the  clergy  concerning 
them  succeed,  the  outlook  for  the  country,  and  especially 
for  New  England,  is  not  very  pi'omi.-ing.  From  this  time 
onward  the  French  Roman  Catholic  hierarchy  will  become 
year  by  year  stronger.  The  immigration  does  not  dimin- 
ish, but  rather  ini.'reases  and  the  increase  by  birth  is  of 
course  larger  and  larger  every  year. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  New  England  is  constantly 
losing  her  own  sons  and  daughters  by  emigration  to  other 
parts.  The  farms,  which  once  were  occupied  by  the  sturdy 
old  Puritan  farmer,  with  his  large  family  of  God-fearing 
children,  have  be  n  abandoiicd  by   these   and   have   passed 


w 


^'^  Ynur  Hi-ritiif/f. 

into  the  hands  ol'  French  and  Irish  Romanists,  ii>  lia>  heen 
shown. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  marked  features  of  the  policy  of  the 
Koniish  hierarchy  to  become  the  possessor  of  the  hoil.  It 
is  a  well-known  fact  that  in  many  places  Protestant  churches 
have  died  out,  wliiLst  Roman  Catludic  churches  are  being 
built  everywhere. 

We  cannot  very  well  affi  rd  to  fold  our  arms,  iii  the  inde- 
finite hope  that  the  problem  will  nolve  itself.  This  popula- 
tion will  not  be  evanj^rdized,  christianized  and  Americanized, 
without  special  eflbrt.  A  <;reat  many  are  losiug  faith  in 
Romanism,  but  that  means  nothing.  The  old  absolutism  is 
better  than  no  religion  at  all.  Rut  in  the  nature  of  things, 
iumdreds  become  indifferent  to  Romanism  as  to  its  religious 
a.-pe(t,and  still  renuiin  connected  with  the  church,  because 
they  fear  to  lose  its  patronage. 

The  problem  has  long  jiresented  itself  to  my  mind  in  the 
shape  of  three  alternatives,  oue  of  which,  it  seems  to  uie, 
nmst  be  accepted,  with  the  residts  it  leads  to  : 

1.  Either  continue  to  remain  indifferent  to  the  fact  that 
we,  through  om-  grand  and  nobk:  iustitutiuns,  are  undermin- 
ing the  Ronuin  Catholic  faith  and  causing  thousands  to  fall 
into  infidelity,  because  we  do  but  little  to  replace  by  some- 
thing better  the  imperfect  and  insullicient  faith  we  are  ins- 
trumental in  destroying,  and  make  up  our  minds  to  reap 
the  disastrous  results  which  are  sure  to  follow,  and  of 
which  France  has  given  the  world  a  sad  enough  example  ; 

2.  Or  again,  in  order  to  preserve  the  Romish  religion  for 
these  masses,  grant  the  hierarchy  all  she  asks,  help  to  es- 
tablish her  firmly  on  American  soil,  and  to  that  end — this 
is  elementary  logic — build  up  her  parochial  schools,  sub- 
sidize them,  overthrow  the  free  institutions  which  have  been 
and  are  ihe  glory  of  the  nation  and  have  made  it  what  it  is, 


ItH  Future  Prohnhir  Growth.  49 

hut  vvliich  Kf)nic  ciinnot  ajiprove  ht'ctiuso  they  dostroy  hor  ; 

.'?.  Or  liually,  siivc  the  Ivoiniui  Ciitholic  popuhition  tVoin 
(Irit'ii!);^  into  iiili(U'lity  and  troin  joi  ..ig  tlio  hipsed  inas.si'S, 
not  hy  overtliro\viii;^()iir  Aiiu'ricaii  iustitiitioiis,  hut  hy  kiu'p- 
iu;^  tliem  Cliristiaii,  and  hy  {^ivini;  the  pure  Gospel  ol'.Ie.sus 
the  Savior  ol"  humanity,  and  the  j,'roat  principles  ot  thelVd- 
testant  Keforniation  to  all  the  Konianidts  whom  God  iiends 
within  our  horders. 

Christian  patriots  must  face  this  question.  AVe  ;j;avc  ex- 
pression to  these  selfsame  views  six  years  ago,  in  the  daily 
press  of  Lowell,  and  we  can  re|)eat  tluMu  with  i-mphasis  'o- 
day.  We  cannot  help  oiu'selves.  The  good  or  evil  day 
may  he  put  off  a  little,  out  come  it  nmst.  One  of  the  three 
alternatives  above-nuiitioned  is  sure  to  prevail. 

Home  is  either  destined  to  become  supremo  in  this  n-jiub- 
lic — this  is  her  dream — and  then  would  all  our  liberties 
cease,  or  she  must  fall.  We  do  not  believe  she  can  ever 
succeed  to  maiutaiti  her  own  so  far  as  her  religious  teneta 
are  concerned.  'I'here  is  not  miu-h  fear  of  theii"  conquer- 
ing this  nation,  liut  we  do  fear  the  atheistical  tendencies  of 
that  system  of  religion  among  the  Romanists  of  this  land, 
as  well  as  the  moral  cowardice  which  the  political  man- 
oeuvres of  the  hierarchy  engender  among  Americans. 

It  is  forgotten  by  thousands  that  the  collaj)se  of  Rome 
does  not  mean  the  strengthening  of  Christianity,  unless 
greater  efforts  be  made  to  convert  to  Christ  those  who  are 
falling  away  from  the  old  faith. 

Father  Clarke  of  Albany,  in  an  article  in  the  Month 
said:  ''The  public  schools  have  taken  away  from  the  Cath- 
olics, in  the  space  of  twelve  years,  1,1)90,000  members. 
Large  masses  of  Catholics  have  succumbed  under  the  influ- 
ence of  these  American  institutions." 


I 


r 


if. 


I 


CriAPTER  VII. 

"■S   AIMS   AND   l.Lni.n«i.-»    ., 

Franco  is  ;„,e,.,,  J„°'     !"  "^^  ""-J  development  of  Ne„. 
enr,o.,;,y.  P^««  "f  kmory,  as  a  matter  „f 

•  '«.I->ond,  Canadians   :     t  rfVf '^''^'^  ^"''""''  -^ 
'-■■•  past  history,  bec„„°    n  '™""'  '''»^'=™e1  i" 

-™l'Ho  very  unwise  ancU,   I  ,^'''"'''''  «""  ^-^-'o  it 
>>'«'"  ignomnt  about  tl,e  nl"  '  ^"''  ^'"S^'"">  to  re- 

--3  of  this  ,a.,.e  popui'J; :  '  Tlf  """  P-Po-s  of  t„e 
them  among  us.  ^         """' "'o-'"  are  worked  out  by 

Let  it  be  sal/l    ^i.  j. 

fro...  tbo  P;.e„  ',;'  :  JX'-'"''  ":'"""'^  —  be  e..pecte„ 

-■^dom,  i„  t,,„  ,„,,^,  of  L     f„'  .    '"''°'™"^  f-  -"K'-oua 
"«"-  ,1,0  batre,!  a,„,  s..or'  of  X  ;  V"'"'','-     ''""^  '"'™ 

'ottbeirRouHsb  compatriots; 


i 


^ 


Its  Aims  and  Purposes  for  tht  Future.  61 

fathers  and  mothers  have  bceu  disowned  by  their  children, 
children  by  their  parents  because  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

Hundreds  of  our  converts  have  been  insulted,  misrepre- 
sented, beaten,  imprisoned.  Their  property  has  been 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  ii.i  many  instances  their  blood  has 
been  shed. 

One  of  the  first  converts  of  the  Baptist  mission  told  me, 
that  for  over  a  year  he  did  not  retire  peaceably  to  his  bed 
at  niglit.  He  was  compelled  to  keep  his  clothing  on  and 
gun  in  hand  to  protect  his  buildings  against  incendiarism. 

My  father  and  his  companion  in  labor  were  surrounded 
by  a  mob  in  the  village  then  known  as  I'lndustrie,  and  the 
resolve  was  to  drive  them  to  the  river  and  drown  them. 
Through  God's  providence.  Seigneur  Joliette  interposed 
and  (heir  lives  were  saved. 

Whilst  the  mob  was  howling,  a  woman  passed  the  mission- 
house  and  cried  out  to  the  wife  of  one  of  the  missionaries  : 
"  Ah,  your  husbands  wont  preach  their  false  doctrine  any 
more.     They  are  dead." 

"Well,"  replied  this  woman  of  faith,  ''if  they  are  dead, 
they  will  rise." 

Our  missionaries  and  pastors  have  been  and  are  to-day 
treated  by  the  clergy  and  their  blind  adepts,  with  scorn 
and  contempt.  The  Komish  press  has  poured  out  its  tor- 
rents of  abuse  on  them,  without  realizing  that  it  was  insiiliing 
the  whole  Protestant  community  in  so  doing.  Through 
all  these  trials  the  French  Protestants  have  had  to 
endure,  the  God  of  their  fathers  has  sustained  them,  so 
much  so  that  they  now  number  some  50,000  in  America. 

If  they  thus  suHered  it  was  because  they  believed  in  the 
great  princij)les  of  freedom,  truth  and  progress  on  which 
tlic  Constitution  of  the  American  nation  is  based  and 
which  Rome  has  always  trampled  under  foot. 


'ij 


1^' 


si 


VoNr  Ileritarje, 

■»  "  ".  1«  ,,a„.i,„i,.  ?     u  i     „','"""'  '"■"""•'="•      ^^-l-t 
-■"  'l"l.-ve,.  a  „ati„„  f, ,  ,;,„„, ^  '"  '"'"I"  ">-».n.c..,  ,„a. 

■"■;;■:,'■'■• -^ "■•■'.-.■>••  ™.  ;::„,.  :•:;; "-'^  "'"'--"0 

I  li"  ivliole  trouble  ,vi,|,  ,i,p  p        ,  ' 

""■'■'■"■-"•■M.s,„aci,i„g»,i, .;.''"':''  ^■"""*'-'  '■•-  .■" 

';■'■"■  "■"■"•'•■^  "-"'«i'7o£  :;:;,:"";!',  '--'-"■'•'.  ..-ko 

-''-•'■•■''^""l,  tl.at  in  ll,e  very  „.  7,    '''"  """"''  "c  un- 

K-""uiM„  „,„,  f„,  „ ;;:;^^^''^"--  l'".l,  ,o..  u,e  ^lavc.  of 

;-"!' «u:i;;:i::;;"::r  ;■;: ;-- -  .^uo  a,,.,,,.,,  ,n. 

'""'•  '"•■  '!•"■.  not  lose  l,i,s  ,„,„  ,;, .  ,  ^  ''"•"■""■S  «.-  A„a.,- 

7"'  >•'>"■•  «-v.-ii.a„o„  j,  r:  „.^  ,.;;'■ "" """  ''^  «•"»  - 
■:f-.'r,.^:;:aS:':rrr-"''''^--' 

''fl"n.^s  to  the  ,„(,,,„„  ,„„„  '"""  f  ''r-?""o  .lays.  „„ 
h'^t-ry  wl,c.„  etuperor,  «:,:;  J"  ",'  f""'  "'■"'«  ^ori,!', 
•-'-  ".0  fbet  of  the  pope      I,:"  :;^";"  "'"™  "■«'•■■  -ks 

1^  ■■•<  »n  I  ItramoMtane,  he  be- 


JfK  ^\ims  (did  I'ltrposis  /of  tilt  Futui-e.  58 

lievcs  in  tlu;  int'allil»ility  of  the  jH)i)e,  in  the  'e.storation  of 
tlic  tcnij)<)i'iil  powiT,  ill  the  t'oiinectioii  of  church  and  state. 
lie  beh'evcs  th  Honiish  church  is  tlie  only  true  diurch  and 
shouhl  be  the  mistress  (tt'all  thi'  nalii)nsuf  tlie  earth.  IT  he 
is  honest  it  is  his  <hity  to  cause  liis  views  to  j)r»'V!iil. 

Alter  what  we  have  said  of  the  strength  of  the    French 
Honian  Catholic  popuhitioii,  and  of  the  gi-owth  we  may  sure 
ly  count  upon,  it  were  idle  toask  whetlier  we  N\'W  Knghind- 
ors  shoidd  he  much   concerned  in   this  matter.     'I'o  l>e  sure 
the   French  Canadians  have   a  right   to  throw   themselves 
iihjectly  unde!'  the  pope's  feet  if  tliey  choose,  providi^d  how- 
ever, in  so  doing,  they  do  not  interfere  with  our  rights,  pro- 
vided they  do  not  feel  ohh'ged  by  their  religious  and  political 
creed,  to  «k'stroy  what  we  most  prize,  what  we  deem  essen- 
tial to  the  permanency  of  this  Christian  nation.     And  who 
does  not  know  that  the  infallildi'  jMipe  has  cursed  as  damn- 
able heresies,  liberty  (»f  speech  and  of  c()nscience,  lil»erty  of 
the  press,  the  free  school   system  and  why  not  say  at  once 
Protestantism  as  u  whole?   Things  nuiy  as  well  lie  said  just 
as  they  are. 

We  have  already  stated  Hi.-hop  Lalleclie's  view  concern- 
ing the  future  ol'Norih  Amt'rica.  As  it  is  shared  by  the 
French  Roman  Catliolic  hierarchy,  it  is  of  importance  that 
we  examine  it  a  little  more  carel'ully. 

The  Americans  of  New  Kngla':;!  nuist,  sooner  or  later, 
give  up  their  fixed  notion,  tha;  the  whole  French  Canadian 
race  is  ignorant  and  <lestitutf  moretiver  of  brain  power. 
This  mistake  will  prove  fatal  to  the  nati<tn. 

It  the  French  nuisses  have  been  kept  iLMiorant  very  largely, 
it  is  a  nnstake  to  suppose  that  the  leaders,  both  among  the 
clergy  and  laity,  are  destitute  (»f  intelligeiUH!  and  culture. 
There  are  a  great  many  strong  men  among  them,  who  know 
just  what  they  are  aiming  at,  and  who  understand  what 


:\ 


54  Your  Heritage. 

forces  are  working  iu  their  favor  and  how  they  arc  to  be 
used. 

Tlicy  have  a  well  defined  policy,  from  which  they  have 
never  departed  in  Canada  and  which  has  given  them  there 
the  residts  they  are  aiming  at  here. 

They  believe  that  it  is  God's  purpose  to  establish  in  North 
America,  a  great  French  Koman  Catholic,  independent 
nation. 

Since  the  British  conquest,  it  lias  been  the  unconcealed 
policy  of  Home  to  prevent  the  fusion  of  races  in  liritish 
Canada.  The  French  have  b(!on  educated  alone,  very 
largely,  in  parochial  schools  created  by  the  priests,  and  ab- 
solutely controlled  by  them. 

KHorts  were  made  to  create  a  system  of  common  schools 
in  (.Quebec,  where  the  children  of  ;ill  nationalities  would  be 
educated,  I»ut  the  priests  were  always  dead  against  any 
such  movement,  because  they  wished  to  keep  the  French 
a  distinct,  French  Roman  Catholic,  and  withal,  mediaeval 
nation. 

It  has  been  impossible  to  create  anything  like  a  true 
Canadian  spii-it  in  Canada,  and  the  events  which  have 
transpired  of  late  have  made  matters  ten-fold  worse. 

When  Louis  Hid,  after  fomenting  two  rebellions  among 
the  half-breeds  of  the  North- West,  was  defeated,  captured 
and  sentenced  to  be  iianged,  tlie  whole  of  French  Canada 
})rotested  and  demanded  that  he  be  lil)erated.  Tiiere  was 
but  one  Frendi  nu'mber  in  the  Dominion  |)arliament,  who 
Uj)held  the  government  when  it  refused  to  C(jmnnite  the 
death  sentence. 

Mr.  ]Mercier,  who  was  then  in  the  siiades  of  opposition, 
took  up  the  cry,  and  as  it  has  been  said,  by  means  of  Kiel's 
rope,  succeeded  in  effecting  a  fusion  between  a  wing  of  the 


irm 


y  'ii'e  to  be 

^^ley  have 
lem  tliere 

in  North 
qit'udeiit 

oiicealed 
liritish 
►e,    very 
'iud  ab- 

•"^'-'liooJs 
>ul(l  be 
i.st  any 

!'liiL'Vul 

>    true 
iia\e 

o 

til  red 
tJuda 

Was 
n-ho 

the 

ion, 
ieJ's 


//s  ^l/z/is  antZ  Purposes  for  the  Future.  55 

Liberal  party  and  the  ultra-clericals  in  the  Conservative 
party,  and  triumphantly  rode  to  power. 

The  race  cry  ran  hi<'h,  and  Mr.  Mercier  himself  did  not 
hesitate  to  declare  that  sometime  or  other  the  tri-color  flag 
mi^dit  float  over  Canada. 

It  h  very  much  feared  by  thon^'htful  nu'U,  that  ere  the 
close  (jf  this  century,  ihe  Confederation  of  provinces  may 
be  broken  ii|».  However  that  may  be,  theie  is  very  little 
sympathy  between  the  I'rench  and  l^njjli>h,  and  if  tin- 
Church  ot  Rome  <M)ntinue  to  encroach  upon  the  liberties  (»f 
the  Protestants,  refuse  to  redress  the  wrongs  of  which  they 
rightly  complain,  there  will  be  bloodshed  rre  long. 

In  (Quebec  there  are  two  oiUcial  languages.  Tiie  (;hurch 
obtained  this  for  the  province  of  ]\Ianitoba  also.  But  at 
the  last  meetiii":  of  the  iej^islaturc  the  dual  lanjrua're  was 
abolished  in  the  last  named  province,  nuich  to  the  tuinoyance 
of  the  French,  who  threaten  vengeance. 

In  Ontai'io,  the  separate  school  .system  was  granted  at 
Rome's  denuind.  The  I'rotestants  now  see  all  the  evils  of 
it  and  talk  of  abolishing  it. 

Thi'V  will  be  big  battles  on  this  and  kindred  question.'*, 
and  no  one  can  tell  how  they  will  be  settled. 

Whether  the  clergy  in  New  England  succei'd  or  not  in 
doing  here  what  they  have  done  in  Canaila,  is  a  ([uestion 
whi(  h  the  future  alone  will  reveal. 

Of  one  thing  we  are  j)ertV'ctly  siu'e.  For  years  they 
have  been  working  with  the  same  ends  in  view.  Their 
aim  is  to  keep  the  French  as  a  si'parate  race  here  ;  to  per- 
petuate among  them  the  customs,  n)anners,  method.s  of  ed- 
ucation, traditions  and  religious  beliefs  of  C^neliec. 

If  thcv  can  resist  American  influene«'s  in  New  England 
as  thev  have  succeeded  to  resist  En";lisli  iiilluences  in  Can 
ada,  they  will  soon  be   a  strong  French    Ronum   Catholic 


I  Ml 


w 


m 


H 


m< 


it 

H 


lli^ 


^fi  Your    Heritage. 

colony  here,  and  their  vote  will  be  felt  in  a  decided  wav, 
in  the  wroiiji^  direction. 

With  the  education  the  Frenrli  are  now  receiving;,  it  is 
very  hard  so  see  how  they  can  become  Americans,  in  the 
true  .senye  of  the  word. 

First  they  are  told  that  they  must  preserve  their  toniruc 
and  nationality.  'I'o  preserve  their  ton^rue  they  nuist  avoid 
American  scho(ds.  Moreover,  if  they  wish  to  be  French 
Canadians  they  must  remain  Romanists.  When  ;lifv  lo.se 
their  reli^qon  they  lose  their  nationality. 

For  me,  that  is  enon.i!;h  to  lUAmv  them  from  true  Amer- 
ican citi/i-nship.  A  loyal,  consistent  Komanist  cannot  be  a 
loyal  American  citi/en. 

The  priest  goes  on  to  say  :  "If  you  will  remain  faithful 
to  Kome  and  to  the  teachin;rs  it  has  always  ;fiven  you  in 
Canada,  your  reli;,non  will  preserve  your  nationality  and  in 
time  it  will  be  so  strong,  in  view  of  the  large  innnigration 
and  by  our  great  natural  growth,  that  we  will  be  al)le  to 
contnd  New  Fngland,  if  not  alom-,  by  making  iin  alliance 
with  Irish  Romanists,  esi)ecially  when  we  want  favors  for 
our  chm-ch.  .lust  as  the  Province  of  Quebec  rules  Canada, 
so  will  we  New  Fngland." 

As  will  be  shown  mon'  at  length  in  another  connection, 
the  French  parochial  school  is  made  one  of  the  most  pow- 
erful agencies  to  i>revent  the  French  Canadians  from  im- 
bibing American  ideas. 

Lv  Citot/cn  Franco- Americaiu  of  the  .sth  .Tamiary,  1801, 
in  referring  to  a  sensible  article  l)y  Mr.  G.  de  Tonnancour, 
on  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  the  French  in  studying 
the  Fnglish  language,  calls  the  atten+ion  to  the  fact  that 
the  article  in  (piestion  caused  a  wonderful  <'(»mmotion  iu 
the  French  Catholic  press  of  the  countrv. 

Le  Co»j/>o/ of  Chicago,  referring  to  the  estublibhrnent  of 


'^■'";?,  it  is 
"">S  in  this 

'*'"•  tongue 

""•^f  avouJ 

'*-'    i'Veiic/. 

''"T  io.su 

'«  Ainor- 


LVtion, 

pow- 

11  iiij- 

I«f)I, 
L'uur, 
Ivfn- 
(iiat 
'   in 

I  of 


Itn  Aims  (tud  Purposes  for  flit  Future, 


.')< 


a  French  parochial  school  in  Calumet,  Michigan,  publi.^hes 
the  t'oliowinfr  from  a  correppondiiit  : 

"Tiiat  school  will  help  our  chiidron  to  retain  tlieir  lan- 
guage. According  to  your  vigorous  expression,  this  school 
will  he  all  invincihli-  rampart  that  will  prt-vi-nt  the  invading 
waves  of  the  Kngii.-h  l.".iiguage  from  carrying  our  national- 
ity down  in  the  abysses  of  a   natiotial   and   religions   apos- 


tiisv  aiid  in  .die  ( 


lark 


ness   ot  a   socialistic   niLMit. 


\V 


V    \vi 


11 


never  he  inlluenced  hv  the  lot.lisli  stiill"  <pf  those  scribblers 
or  false  young  prophets,  like  that  M.  dc  Tonnancour,  Avho 
mf.kes  bold,  in  thi-  Fall  Ivivi-r  IndcjniKlmit,  to  j)raise  the 
Knglish  language  as  our  soK-  means  of  advancement  and 
our  real  plank  of  salvation." 

Another  expresses  himself  in  the  following  terms: 
'*<)in'  laii'Miajre,  it  is  the  cement  to  the  editice  of  our  na- 


tioiialitv  I     Our  lanuuaire  it   is 


our 


centre    of  rallv  !     Our 


language,  it  is  the  disliiictive    mark   of  our    nationality  in 
this  world.      Without    the    French    lan:;iia''e,    the   French 


n'-i 


anadians  w 


illb 


di 


d,t 


)e  condemned,  to  remain  zeros  in  America. 


A  third  eurrespondent  from  Lake   Linden,   writes    to  the 


dit 


editor 


(( 


hi  nee  you 


>•  last  visit,  we  have  often  discussed  the  ridic 


ulcus  article  published  in  the  Fall  River  Indent  ndunt  and 
bearing  the  name  of  a  certain  'I'onnancour.  If,  by  his  an- 
ti-national doctrine,  this  Ciuiadian  could  make  proselytes, 
he  might  l)e  considered  dangerous  .  .  .  We  have  here  fam- 
ilies who  receive  f,r  \((ti<ittal  iA'  Lowell.  It  was  pleasant 
to  see  how  il  intimates  to  AL  de  'roiiiiancoiir  that  it  would 
be  better  for  an  ignorant  writer  or  a  traitor  to  our  nation- 
ality like  himself,  to  study  before  handlinir  the  jx-n.  We 
hope  that,  in  the  Cotidrnt,  you  are  going  to  direct  against 
that  individual  and  those  like  him,  all  the  ni'cvssarij  ( (forts 
80  OS  to  make  him  disappear  from  our  ranks." 


m 


o8  Your  Jleritaye. 

Mnny  such  extracts  could  be  given  to  show  that  the  de- 
sire is  to  keep  the  French  Caimdiaus  in  the  oM  ruts,  by 
preventing  them  from  learning  tlie  English  language. 

It  sliould  be  observed  here,  that  the  statement  made  by 
the  New  York  I'Jiwtiing  Post  of  October  22,  1887,  repro- 
duce<l  by  IVof,  Smith  of  Columbia  Colh'ge,  in  his  book, 
"Emigration  and  Immigration,"  and  whic'li  was  once  true, 
is  by  no  means  accurate  miw. 

It  is  stated  that  the  French  Canadians  come  here  for  a 
short  time,  gather  a  little  money  and  go  back  to  Canada. 
No  doul)t  some  go  back,  but  of  late  a  great  change  has 
taken  place.  Now  that  they  have  their  churches,  their 
sch(»ols  and  numerous  societies  ;  now  that  tlay  exist  in  good 
sized  colonies  in  so  many  places,  they  settle  (h)wn.  They 
buy  a  house  or  a  farm  and  make  of  this  country  their  home. 

The  Canadian  govt-rnment  has  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  appropriations  made  to  repatriate  the  Frencji,  are  so 
much  wasted  money. 

Hon.  Mr.  McShane  of  Montreal,  opposed  the  gi-anting 
of  a  sum  of  money  by  the  (^ueliec  government,  on  the  ground 
that  so  long  as  mon  could  be  hired  m  (Quebec  and  Montreal 
for  sevcnty-Hve  cents  a  day,  it  was  folly  to  speak  of  bring- 
ing back  the  Canadians. 

M.  Kamcau,  a  noted  Frenchman  who  wrote  La  Francr 
aux  Colonics  and  Cue  Colonic  Feodalr  visited  America  last 
winter,  with  the  sj)ecial  purpose  of  gaining  iuller  informa- 
tion as  to  tiie  distribution  of  the  Canadian  race  in  North 
America. 

He  did  all  he  coidd  by  interviews  witli  leading  men  in 
cities  and  towns  of  New  England  to  elicit  the  truth  as  to 
the  strength  of  the  French  Canadian  element  in  the  United 
States.     He  learned  enough  tocontirm  him  in  the  conviction 


Its  Aims  and  Purposes  for  the  Fufitre.  59 

that   tlie  expansion   acponiplishcd  during  the  hist   twenty 
years  has  been  extraordinary. 

The  Montreal  ilazrtto.  states  that  it  so  happens  that,  con- 
temporaneously with  J\I.  Ranieau's  eiujuiries,  M.  L.  A.  W. 
Proulx  had  gone  to  New  England  to  conduct  a  carcfid  canvass 
of  the  industrial  centers  with  a  view  to  the  repatriation  of 
his  countrymen,  lie  visited  many  places  but  it  does  not 
aj)pear  that  the  general  response  was  favorable. 

On  the  contrary,  it  was  found  that  an  entiridy  differert 
movement  was  in  full  operation,  a  movement  in  the  direction 
of  naturalization,  and  c()nse<jueiitly  totally  opposed  to  the 
object  M.  Proulx  had  in  view. 

Some  years  ago  a  mighty  multitude  of  French  Canadums 
from  the  United  States,  met  m  (.Quebec.  Tlu'y  were  de- 
lighted with  the  recej)tion  given  them.  Hut  these  well-to- 
do,  Americanized  Canadians  returned  home,  glad  to  have 
seen  their  great  St.  Lawrence  and  the  old  home,  but  with- 
out the  least  desire  to  exchange  the  new  home  for  the  old. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  know  what  is  the  valuation  (>f 
French  jjroprietors  in  New  England.     The  following  ligures 


are  given 


In  Maine  $2,i:54,4r)n  ;  New  Ilamjishire  $2,00'), 031  ; 
Vermont  S2,'2;VJ, 07')  ;  Khode  Island  gil,<;:)(),():J(') ;  Massa- 
chusetts SH, '.).">(), S4() ;  Connecticut  SI  ,310,31;').  This  makes 
a  total  of  SlW,3">(),3  1<».  These  ligures  would  indicate  that 
they  are  buying  property.  In  Woonsocket  K.  I.  a  large 
part  of  tiie  real  estate  is  in  their  hands. 

In  view  of  all  that  has  been  said,  the  dream  of  the  French 
clergy  does  not  seem  so  empty.  What  they  have  succeeded 
in  doing  in  Canada  should  lead  us  to  relied.  The  Eastern 
Townships  were  once  i)retty  nuich  what  New  Englan<l  now 
is.  The  English  have  been  gradually  driven  away,  their 
farms  bought  up  and  the  French    have  taken   possession  of 


1:ii 


ij'a 


60  )'iiiir  III  ritiiiji-. 

the  lantl.      It  is  sjiiil  that  tho  church  buys    thoso   farms  and 
takes  a  iii(»rtj:ajr»'  <»ii  thciu. 

We  raise  the  voice  ol'  \variiiji«'  and  we  ask  cahnlv,  as 
matters  now  stand,  with  a  nation  unaciniainted  with  these 
facts,  unawari'  of  the  ])resence  ol' these  disinteirratin^rlorccsi 
why  shonhl  it  he  titopian  to  think  Koine  may  attain  her  aim? 
Instead  ol' hein;:  so  sanuMiine,  is  it  not  hett«'r  to  h)ok  cahnly 
into  the  iinestion  ? 

Is  it  true  or  is  ii  not  tliat  New  Kn>:hind  himies,  of  the 
type  you  need  to  preserve  your  national  h'fe,  are  not  muUi- 
plyin^'  in  anything  like  the  ratio  of  French  Catholic  homes? 
Is  it  true  that  it  recjuires  four  or  live  American  families  to 
make  one  French  Canadian  family  ?  Such  are  the  facts, 
and  unless  educationalists.  Christian  j)olitici!>ns  and  reform- 
ers take  hoUl  of  this  (juestion  fearli'ssly,  unless  they  adopt 
strong  measures  to  Americanize  the  Fr-'iich  and  Irish  Cath- 
olics, Homanism  will  rule  New  Kngland  in  the  near  future 
just  as  surely  as  it  rules  Canada  to-day. 

Optimists  who  read  these  lines  will  no  doubt  shru"  their 
shoulders  and  ridicule  the  idea.  This  is  precisely  what 
English  Protestants  have  been  doing  in  Caiuula  for  years. 
The  efforts  (»f  the  brave  missionaries  who  worked  .so  hero- 
ically, who  bled  and  died  to  give  the  (Jospel  to  the  French 
of  Canada,  were  little  appreciated  l)y  English  Protestantism. 
There  was  no  need  of  such  a  work.  Con(iucred  Canada 
it  was  thought,  would  always  have  to  submit  to  Protestant 
England.      lint  what  has  been  enacted  of  late? 

The  70, ()()(>  French  of  the  conquest  luive  become  1,240,- 
000.  The  church  which  controls  them  has  become  so  pow- 
erful that  it  controls  the  Province  of  Quebec,  and  through 
it  the  Dominion  parliament,  that  does  not  dare  to  veto  a 
bill,  the  unrighteousness  of  which  is  admitted  on  all  sides, 
and  the  opposition  is  so  afraid  that  it  does  not  dare  say  a 


Its  Aims  ami  Piirposen  for  flw  Future.  81 

\vor<l  ng*iii)st  it.  The  Proviiici"  «tf  (^lu-hoc  openly  decliircs 
its  iiitetition,  through  its  Premier,  to  hocouK'  ji  French  Cuth- 
olic  nation,  breiiking  loose  from  the  oonfedenitioii  to  submit 
in  nil  things  to  the  pope  uiul  no  longer  to  theC^ueen  of  En- 
irland.  The  puhlie-school  system  of  Ontario  is  shattererl  at 
lv<»nu''s  demand.  Knglish  is  banished  from  many  schools 
(dthat  English  Protestant  province,  and  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic catechism  is  taught  even  to  Protestant  childn-n  in 
schools  sul)sidized  by  the  state.  These  historical  facts  need 
to  be  weighed  by  New  Englanders.  They  are  of  such  a 
character  as  to  lead  men  to  think,  and  should  help  to  save 
this  country  from  that  dangerous /(//sst'/-y'a//r  policy  follow- 
ed by  Protestant  England,  the  sad  results  of  which  are  seen 
so  clearly  to-day  in  the  Dominion. 


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I 


TJIi:    1KEN<  II    HIKHAUCIIY. 

"We  trust  wc  have  succeeded  in  showing,  in  (he  cimptcrs 
which  precede,  that  there  is  sonic  reason  to  tear  the  invad- 
ing force  we  have  endeavored  to  describe,  and  whose 
phms  of  battle  we  liave  in  a  measure  set  fortii. 

However  strong  an  army  may  be  its  connnanders  ought 
never  to  be  ignorant  of  the  real  position  of  the  enemy,  of 
its  actual  strength  and  of  the  possible  help  it  may  receive 
from  surrounding  powers. 

]t  may  be  said  that  a  want  of  proper  preparation,  will 
almost  invariably  prove  fatal  to  an  army,  however  strong 
ii  may  be.  If  the  North  had  had  the  preparation  of  the 
South,  the  rebellion  would  have  been  quelled  in  a  compar- 
atively short  time  and  thousands  of  lives  would  have  been 
spared. 

A  great  conflict  of  principles  has  begun  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  each  day  it  is  increasing  in  mag- 
nitude. The  powers  of  media'valism,  represented  by  the 
Roman  Catholic  hierarchy,  and  the  civilization  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  are  face  to  face. 


yV/c  Frciir/i  I/i>  rdir/ii/.  65 

All  enlightened  J'rotesttints  Ijeliovc  that  tho  Protestant 
civilization  oi"  his  great  nation  will  win  the  day.  In  all 
likelihood  it  will  l»e  so. 

Hiif  li-t  us  not  forget,  that  the  church  or  Rome,  that 
strong,  (;onsolidatr(l,  th(»roughly  organized  body,  believes 
otherwise.  She  believes  and  teaches  tliat  the  conception 
this  Protestant  nation  has  Conned  of  religion  and  govern- 
ment, is  totiilly  wi-(,ng,  that  it  is  opposed  to  (lod's  laws  and 
must  necessarily  be  c()nil)atied.  Consequently  tiie  church 
has  cursed  and  continu('S  t(j  curse  the  liberties  wliicli  this 
nation  deems  essential  to  its  widfare.  It  calls  these  liber- 
ties good  and  desiraltli!  only  inasmuch  as  they  make  it  pos- 
sible for  her  to  establish  her  system,  which  when  estab- 
lished, will  put  an  end  to  them  all. 

Will  any  thinking  man  imagine  for  a  moment,  that 
Kome  will  vield  comnlacentlv  ;  that  she  will  throw  down 
her  jirms  and  accept  a  civilization  she  considers  as  opposed 
to  (lod  and  to  the  highest  good  of  man  in  time  and  eternity  ? 

It  cannot  lie.  Sliehasnever})een  kiiuwn  todoit  inthe|)ast. 
'V\n'.  struggle  will  be  long,  steady  and  lieree.  It  may  end 
in  a  contlict  of  ai'ms. 

It  is  Avith  the  Fremdi  wing  of  the  miglitv  force  opposing 
our  Christian  civilization,  that  we  are  dealing,  and  having 
studied  its  characteristics,  its  strength,  its  probable  increase, 
its  plans,  it  is  wise  for  us  to  en(iuire  whether  there  are 
not  allies  that  it  may  call  to  its  help,  and  what  are  the  en- 
'Mues  ol' war  A  Idch  they  uniti-dly  will  use,  to  sid)due,  if 
they  can,  these  New  Kngland  States. 

The  French  elegy  is  the  leadiiig  force  in  this  battle. 
The  priests  can  be  divided  into  two  ■•lasses:  First  those 
who  are  honest  and  Itelieve  that  all  I'rotestants  are  going 
to  perdition.  They  I'onsidt-r  it  their  Itoundeii  duty  to  jiro- 
teet  the  French  Canadians  from  those  pernicious    Anu'ricau 


i!l[! 


li'l 


mi 


n 

.a. 


'I 


I 


I 


i;    > 


fi'  ■' 


C>C}  Yuiir   III  rltdijt. 

iiiHuences,  IVom  tluitgodles-s  civilization,  whicli  would  surely 
damn  \\\v.\y  s(iu]>. 

In  tliii  .<(('()ii(l  |)la('c,  theri;  arc  scores  of  priests  who  arc 
not  reliL''ious  nu'ii.  tlitv  liave  cniuraced  the  i)riesthood  us  a 
]ii'()t'('ssi(in,  l)i-cause  of  the  power,  honor  and  wealth  wliich 
ac('oni])any  it.  The  *'cure"  is  almost  a  demi-god  among 
the  Fi'onch  Canadians,  his  word  is  law,  he  secuj'cs  all  the 
money  he  wants  and  by  it  ohtains  inlluence. 

^^^•  ai-e  comiJcUed  to  say,  that  by  I'ai-  the  largest  number 
ol' French  j)rii'sts  l)elong  to  the  latter  class.  One  does  not 
live  thirty  years  in  a  l\oman  Catholic  province,  when;  the 
powei-  of  I  he  cleiL''}'  is  absolute,  without  having  ample  oi)- 
jioi'tuniiy  to  become  ac({uainted  with  facts. 

It  doe-  not  luattei'  to  which  of  these  two  classes  the 
French  Canadian  pidest  (»f  New  England  may  belong,  he  is 
out  of  sympathy  with  our  Protestant  civilization.  The 
h(»nest  man  will  light  against  it  from  conviction.  lie  will 
do  all  in  hi>  powei'  to  jirevent  the  French  children  from  at- 
tending the  public  sclutols.  He  will  teach  them  that  their 
tirst  duty  is  to  tlie  Pope,  (iod's  ix'presentative.  lie  will 
ui'ge  them  to  keep  away  trom  Protestant  inlluence,  to  re- 
main French  and  preserve  tlu'  old  ways  of  thinking  of 
C^uebec.  He  will  tell  them  Iliat  ( iod needs  them  to  build  Uj) 
a  great  Konuin  Catholic  nation,  of  which  New  England  is  to 
form  part.  He  dues  all  in  his  power  to  instil  these  ideas 
in  the  minds  of  both  young  and  old. 

The  priests  ol  the  other  class  do  the  same  thing,  though 
actiuited  by  other  motives.  They  arc  interested  in  main- 
taining liie  i^tata  qao.  They,  and  a  few  others  of  whom 
we  shall  speak,  are  the  oidy  one;<  who  reap  benctits  ii'oiii 
this  state  of  things.  It  would  never  do  to  let  the  French 
children  attend  the  American  public  schools,  they  would 
learn  to  use  tla.'ir  own  reason,  they  would  learn  to  do  much 


Tin:  French  Uicrarc/uj. 


67 


of  their  own  tliiiikiiij:^.  They  would  want  to  read  the  IJiblc 
and  soon  tlioy  would  cease  to  be  Romanists.  Then  they 
would  not  pay  to  obtain  the  remission  of  their  sins,  to  re- 
ceive the  sacraments  of  the  church,  to  obtain  the  deliverance 
of  their  fiiends  from  the  llames  of  purgatory.  In  other 
words  they  would  no  longer  submit  to  the  church  and  it 
wcndd  l)e  a  great  llnancial  loss  to  the  priests. 

The  French  priests  then  are,  first  and  last,  the  sworn  en- 
emies of  the  assimilation  of  the  ditl'erent  races  in  the  United 
States.  On  all  occasions  they  warn  the  French  against 
what  they  call  its  dangers.  They  insist  on  being  re- 
j»resentedby  one  or  more  (d*  their  number,  in  all  the  societies 
and  organizations  formed  by  the  laity.  They  nuist  be  con- 
sulted and  if  anything  be  proj)ose(l  which  is  not  in  keeping 
witii  their  views,  it  cannot  be  carried  through. 

The  (juestion  may  with  a  good  deal  ol  pertinence  be 
asked  :  To  what  extent  should  the  state  allow  the  priests  to 
introduce  into  this  country  the  boycott,  and  thai  reign  of 
terrorism  which  prevails  in  Homan  Catholic  counti'ies? 
Parents  are  not  fret;  to  do  what  they  please  with  their  chil- 
dren. They  would  preli^r  to  educate  them  on  the  same 
lines  as  the  children  of  this  country.  It  would  be  a  great 
benefit  to  them.  If  they  try.  the  priest  interferes  in  various 
ways.  First  he  tries  ecceleciastical  threats.  He  withdraws 
the  sacraments  of  the  church.  Then  he  makes  use  *>i  the 
confessiomd  aiul through  it,  liurrs  the  business  of  the  offend- 
ing j)arent  or  compels  his  friends  to  ostracise  him.  When 
he  dares  he  denounces  him  from  the  pulpit. 

liy  sucli  methods,  the  pecjple  who  might  otherwise  be- 
come independent  citizens,  are  kept  within  the  ranks. 

The  masses,  who  know  no  better  are  kept  down,  a  large 
part  of  their  earnings  taken  away  from  them  to  build  paro- 
chial schools,  churches,  and  to  enrich  the  clergy. 


tt^ji 


♦  ' 


F  t: 
up 


I     IH 

li  II 


68  }'"///•    IIcrifiKje. 

Whoii  Fr.  Duf'ro.«sne  mI'  llolyoke  died,  he   left    a   fortune 

of  82.'>(),<)<)0. 

Soiiu'  ludiiths  ago,  a  woman  was  at  the  point  of  deatli 
in  Adiinis,  Ma.«s.  The  Auicriean  |ihysi('ian  tnld  t!ie  lius- 
hainl  that  if  he  desired  to  send  for  the  priest  he  liad  lietter 
(In  XI.  hceaiise  his  wifr  wonhl  not  live  long.  The  priest 
wa-  -riit  fur.  lit-  canu',  <'(»nfe."«sed  the  dying  woman,  and 
"put  hrr  ill  a  stale  ot'  gi'ace."  Then  turning  to  thi'  hus- 
I'aud  he  said  to  him:  "IJet'ort;  I  ean  administer  the  saera- 
lui'iit  you  nuist  .-uhmit  to  the  conditions  laid  down  hy  the 
ehurch  and  pay  nie  ten  dollars." 

Tilt'  po(U'  nnm  in-ged  the  i)riesi  to  he  merciful  and  pertorm 
the  cei'cnioiiv  liir  nothinji'.  He  uriii'd  him  not  to  allow  his 
\\  ill'  to  ilii'  l)eeaiise  of  their  i)overtv.  Thev  had  no  hread 
lor  their  children  and  could  not  jiossihly  pay  the  sum  asked. 

lli«  aj)[ieals  to  the  generosity  of  this  "representative  ol 
(iod"  wei'e  ot  none  t'll'ect.  Taking  his  hat  he  rose  and  said 
ln'  would  not  "•adminisier  the  woman"  unless  paid  for  it. 

'I'he  tViends  who  were  in  the  house,  believing  :hat  the 
salvation  (d'ihi>  woman  depended  on  the  administration  of 
the  Eucharist  and  lOxtreme  L'netion,  exerted  themselves  to 
collect  the  ten  dollars  demanded  to  iinroduce  this  poor  dying 
woman  into  heaven. 

Instance  upon  instance  coidd  he  given,  to  prove  that  the 
lioman  (  atholic  hii'rarchy  is  more  conL'erned  about  her  own 
nggrandi/.ement  than  aliout  the  prosi>erity  of  the  peo[)le 
she  controls  and  tlu;  nation  in  which  they  live.  It  is  her 
interest  to  kei|i  the  masses  ignorant  of  the  benefits  of  our 
nineteenth  century  life  and  civilization,  and  we  need  expect 
nothing  but  strong,  concentrated  and  persistent  opposition 
to  all  mo\ements  that  have  in  view  the  evangelization  and 
Ajiiericanization  of  the  French  Koman  Catholics  of  New 
England. 


77/r  / 


/'(•/(( 


//    11 


n  I'unh 


h 


69 


III  our  humble  (tpinioii,  it  is  a  mistaki'  ti)  think  that  the 
liierarcliy  can  adapt  itself  to  the  comlitie)!!  of  things  which 
has  prevailed  for  years  in  this  i-ej)ul>lic. 

The  Koinish  chTjjy  resembles  in  very  many  respects,  the 
clergy  of  the  M<.'rm(»n  church.  They  ari'  \vi.>i'  enough  to 
give  expressiiiii,  trom  tinn'  to  time,  to  certain  views  which 
seem  to  accord  with  those  entertained  by  the  people  of  this 
nation. 

The  ^lormon  hieraj'chv,  thou<rh  it  "^till  clainifi  to  believe 
that  polygamy  is  of  divine  institution,  j)!-etends  to  abolish  it. 
Thinking  tiien  are  not  so  unwise  as  to  imagine  that  this 
ciuii'ch  is  sincere.  They  see  through  this  villanous  ti-ick. 
the  object  of  which  is  to  throw  dust  in  the  eyes  of  a  good 
many  over-credulous  people.  The  men  who  look  somewhat 
into  the  future,  know  very  well  that  what  Utah  aspires  to 
is  statedimi.  When,  by  apparent  concessions,  the  hierar- 
chy has  obtained  wliat  she  want>  from  unscrupulous  politic- 
ians, then  it  will  be  the  easiest  thing  in  the  worldto  institute 
polygamy  anew. 

The  Homi>h  hierarchv  acts  )u>t  hi  the  same  wav.  The 
end  justifies  the  means  for  lioth  ciiurelies.  In  order  to 
aj)pease  the  fears  of  this  nation,  it  assumes  an  air  of  lilieral- 
ity  from  time  to  time,  it  holds  a '^•ongress  of  laymen  or  it 
instructs  a  priest  here  and  there  t(»  say  he  favors  the  public 
schools  of  the  land,  knowing  tliat  thousands  of  short-sighted 
Protestants  will   be  taken  in  the  iraj). 

We  have  seen  too  imudi  of  this  to  allow  our>elves  to  be 
deceived.     As  long  as  the  church  retains  the  dogma  of  papal 

infallibility,  she  cannot  allow  her  clergy  to  instruct  the 
people  on  other  lines  than  those  tliat  have  Ijeen  tbllowed  in 
the  past.  Both  of  these  hierarchies  need  to  be  watched 
very  closely.  The  French  |)riests  have  always  been  and 
lire  to-day,  the  uucompromising  foe  ot  our  Protestant,  Ame- 
rican civilization. 


m 


CIIAPTKU    II, 


TIIK    l.ir.KKAI,  \\"lN<i    <»1-    TIIK    l.AITV. 

Knijjliasis  is  oftuii  laid,  ami  not  witlioiit  reason,  on  tlie 
distinction  wiiicli  exists,  t'sj)CM'iallv  in  iliis  country,  iK'twoi'ii 
tlie  Clturcli  ol' Uonio,  that  is  to  say  llic  hierarchy,  ami  the 
laity. 

It  is  claimed  ihat  in  a  country  where  freedom  reigns,  if 
is  impossihle  for  intelli^'^ent  men  to  escape  the  liherali/.iui; 
influences  brought  to  bear  on  them,  il'  not  directly,  at  any 
rate  in  an  indin-ct  way. 

He<'ause  oi"  this,  it  is  hopeil  and  expected,  that  a  large 
mniiber  will  soon  ])e  found  among  the  laity,  who  will  iH't'use 
to  submit  to  the  exactions  of  the  clergy,  and  who  will  join 
in  with  the  AiuRrican  people  in  bringing  about  the  assim- 
ilation of  races,  so  as  to  form  oni'   great    American   nation. 

We  are  ready  to  admit  that  a  lai'ge  mimber  of  Fruncii 
Canadians  are  drifting  away  from  the  Roman  Catlu»lic 
church,  so  far  as  its  religious  life  ,s  concevned.  It  is  not 
very  easy  for  a  thinking  num  who  has  an  oj)poi'tunity  to 
read  a  little,  to  remain  submissivi>  to  the  anti-scriptural  and 
irratit)nal  donnuis  of  Rouuinism. 


The  Lilti  rul  117////  of  tin    Lulfi/. 


1 


We  know,  tViiin  jjcrsonal  iiitorcourpo  with  ii  larirt'  num- 
Ijcr  <){'  odiiciiti-il  Roman  Catliolics  in  Canada,  that  ihi-y 
havi!  no  more  faith  in  the  sy>t('m  than  I  have.  In  tiu-t 
they  have  lost  all  faith.  Their  rmson  coiiM  not  aeerpt  such 
dogmas  as  traiisstihstantiation.  iln'  infalliliih'ty  of  the  Pojie, 
the  supernatural  power  ot'  tin-  pi'ie.-t,  and  thev  havi'  ht-i-ii 
driven  from  Koniisli  ahsohitism  into  bhink  inliiielity.  'i'he 
amount  otrehirious  inditrrrence  and  of  irreliLrion  which  ex- 
ists is  simply  !i])]i!illin<r.  There  are  some  pious  sonls.  Wiio 
would  deiiv  it?  l>nt  the  whide  svstem  is  nothinir  hut  deiul 
externalism,  wiiieh  appeals  to  the  senses,  without  reaching 
the  heart  or  conscienee. 

TIic  result  of  this  stalenf  things  is  very  serious,  especially 
iimong  the  better  educated  class.  Tlu.v  ht'conie  unbelievers, 
they  remain  unconvei-tcd,  tiicv  lo>c  the  religious  teclio'T 
and  the  moral  sense  becomes  blunted,  'i'hen  it  necessarily 
follows  that  all  tlieir  actions  will  lie  i,'osei-ned  by  sidf-in- 
tcrest.  If  it  jiays  them  lo  brciik  loo^e  irom  liume,  they 
will  not  iicsitatc  to  do  su.  They  will  attend  some  Pi-otest- 
ant  church.  li'they  lind  that  it  is  more  pr<.litable  Ibi- them 
to  retain  their  connection  with  Ivomanism,  they  do  so. 
They  know  that  the  church  is  accommodating,  that  it  will 
not  trouble  them  so  long  as  they  keep  up  appearances,  go 
to  confession  once  a  yeni'  and  iitti'tid  mass  oiici'  in  awhile. 
Provided  they  send  thi'ii"  wive-  nnd  danghtt'rs  to  conte>.-.ion 
freqiunulv  and  pay  liberally  foi-  the'  suppoi't  of  the  church. 
they  will  be  considerc(l  .is  loyal  members  of  the  h()ly  Cath- 
olic church. 

The  majority  of  the  educated  I'^rench  Canadians  bclonL"" 
to  tliis  class  and  there  is  nothing  >trange  in  the  fact  that 
they  join  with  the  French  (deigy,  whom  they  in  thtdr  heart 
detest,  to  keep  the  masses  blind  and  ignorant,  to  j)erpetuate 
race  prejudices  and  siH)erstitions  among  them,  so  that  they 


I 


^'l| 


u 


TTi 


< 


I 


72 


Foar  Ihrilatje. 

may  cniitimu.'  to  t(t  be  in  New  Knjrlaiid  wliat   they  ui-ie  in 
Caiiadii. 

There  iji  do  help  to  be  expected  from  the  liberal  \vin;r  <>f 
the  French  Canadian  popnlaticni,  in  takinir  these  niaf*.se.s  out 
of  the  old  rntrt  and  leadinj;  them  to  adapt  them,''elve.s  to  our 
American  civilization.  I'hey  know  well  eiioM;_di  that  the 
people  would  have  all  to  ^'ain  by  breaking  loose  from  the 
old  regime  ;  but  true  patriotism  has  (K-parted  from  them, 
because  KcMuanism  has  destroye<l  their  conscience  and 
made  of  them  nioi-al  wrecks,  ready  tosacrilice  the  happine.-s 
of  theii"  countrvnicn  on  the  altar  of  seli-interest. 

Need  we  make  this  a  little  clearer?  Our  educated  French 
Canadians  are  for  the  most  part  in  various  lines  of  business, 
hiwyci's,  physicians,  journalists,  and  are  very  fond  of  po- 
litical honors.  Tiiey  depend  on  the  French  Canadian 
masses  for  their  success  in  business,  ior  their  clicuts,  pa- 
tients, subscribers  and  advertisers. 

These  nutsses  u'-'o  under  the  power  of  the  hierarchy. 
They  buy  wheiv  ii  pleases  the  church  that  they  shall  buy, 
they  call  on  the  j)hysician  the  jjriest  ajjproves.  They  sub- 
scribe to  the  |)aper  which  advocates  the  plans  of  the  French 
hierarchy  and  give  their  advertisements  to  the  same.  They 
vote  for  the  candidate  that  will  favor  Rome's  purposes. 

The  conclusion  is  clear.  It  were  suicidal  for  these  lead- 
ers in  French  Canadian  society  t(t  incur  the  displeasure  of 
the  clergy.  They  would  be  ruined  linancially  and  socially 
in  a  very  short  time.  Not  only  uuist  they  refrain  from  .id- 
vocating  the  assimilation  of  the  French  race,  by  means  of 
the  pul)lic  schools  and  in  other  ways,  but  necessity  is  laid 
on  them  to  take  the  lead  in  the  other  direction.  They  can- 
not win  the  favor  ol  the  all-powerfid  clergy,  if  they  do  not 
favor  their  plans  and  sclienu's,  in  the  direction  we  have  in- 
dicated. 


Till   Lilnru!   Willi/  i>/  III-    Lnitij, 


We  li(»l(l  it  t'rnin  the  !ij)S  of  tliosu  wiio  in  imhlic  arc  the 
opponents  of  the  relonns  the  Fn-iich  I'rntestuut.s  are  trying 
to  bring  about,  that  tht-v  hati;  the  |)riest>,  do  not  approxe  of 
their  sclienies,  but  dai'e  not  oppose  thrni,  brcaiiM'  they 
have  I'aniilies  who  dept-nd  on  llicni,  chiNh'tMi  whu  lii-td 
breatl.  It'  they  tlisplea.-ed  tht>  piiest.s  starvation  would  t^tare 
them  in  the  face. 

About  three  years  airo  a  yomiv'  man  of  Soutlibrid;je, 
Mass.,  tohl  me  with  a  Lfood  (h'al  ol'  bitterness  ol  lieart.  that 
lie  had  been  persecuted  most  crihlly  iti-cause  at  the  Kn-nch 
C'aiKulian  convention  held  at  llolyoke,  lu-  ha<l  jiad  the  har- 
dihood ol' speaking  in  lavor  ol' the  public  .•>chool  sy>tem  ol 
this  country,  as  against  the  parochinl  x-hools.  ''To-day, 
I  am  obligefl  to  keep  my  mouth  dosed.  I  am  married  and 
have  young  children.  Should  1  dare  to  say  »jne  word 
against  the  cruel  actions  of  the  j)riests,  well-known  to  me 
and  to  the  other>,  I  would  be  turned  out  of  my  situation 
the  next  day.  In  this  land  of  liberty,  the  church  of  Home 
makes  slaves  of  the  "liberals,"  who  itelieve  neither  in  her 
religious  nor  in  her  political  creed.  I  believe  fidly  in  the 
work  of  emancipation  you  have  iiiidertiiken." 

Some  are  rich  and  intluential  enough  to  be  independent, 
but  they  are  too  cowardly  to  act  ;  and  eager  as  they  are  to 
obtain  higher  honors  thr(jugli  the  inllueiice  ••!  the  church, 
they  make  obeisance  to  it. 

We  do  blame  ami  stignuitize  this  class  of  our  countrymen. 
We  do  condenm  them  for  their  want  ot  trn*-  palri(jii.-m. 
They  should  be  go\erned  by  i)rinciple*  and  not  by  sell'- 
interest.  If  they  would  join  hand  and  lioldly  oppose  the 
hierarchy,  thousands  of  the  i)eople  wouhl  follow  them. 

However,  when  there  is  so  nmch  ot  the  ,-ame  thing  jiniong 
American  Protestants,  how  can  we  wonder*' 

Wo  have  forme<l  the  accpiaintatice  of  a  goodly  numbt-r  of 


■♦itfli 


m 


i/'! 


:^. 


il 


r 


M  ■ 


I 


i 


;  • 


71  Your  Ileritatje. 

Frcnc'li  Cunadian.s  who  arc  I'^juliu's  amnii<,'  tlio  masses. 
AVe  liavc  discussed  these  vital  matters,  with  journalists  and 
have  heeii  tohl  hy  thrm  that  thiiy  knew  very  well  that  the 
clerjry  were  ()j)i)ressin<ir  the  people  i'or  selfish  ends  and  not 
from  relijLfious  eonvictions.  They  declared  that  it  would  be 
better  for  the  people  to  join  in  witli  our  American  civiliza- 
tion. And  wiieii  asked  why  they  lielped  the  ])riests  in  keep- 
ing their  countrymen  down  in  ihis  way,  the  answer  was 
that  they  themschcs  had  no  relijrion,  they  had  thrown  over- 
board h»n;^  a,L'o  the  superstitions  o("  Komanism  and  believed 
in  nothing:  else,  and  in  view  of  that,  their  lirst  and  hist 
consideration  was  their  own  purse.  How  would  they  best 
succeed  in  making  money,  in  gaining  intluence  was  their 
sole  concern. 

We  were  present  at  the  ''National"  Convention olTrench 
Canadians  held  in  Nashua,  N.  II.,  in  the  summer  of  ISSH. 
We  met  there  a  wealthy  Canadian  of  one  of  our  Massachu- 
setts cities.  He  was  a  delegate.  On  hearing  a  doctor 
fnjni  Putnam,  Ct.,  upholding  the  '"iKtly  mother,"  the 
Romish  Church,  this  gentleman  said  to  us  :  "The  hypocrite 
does  not  believe  a  word  of  what  he  says.  Moreover,  he 
continued,  I  can  assure  you  that  a  hirge  j)ro[)ortion  of 
this  convention  are  not  in  symj)athy  with  tlu'  plans  of  the 
clergy.  Of  tlu;  eleven  delegates  from  my  city,  not  two  ol 
us  are  in  sympathy  with  these  anti-American  measures." 

We  asked  this  man  why  lie  and  his  friends  did  not  speak 
out  tlieir  convictions  ?  He  said  it  was  impossiljle.  The 
church  would  crusli  them.  For  instatice  he  would  lose  his 
tena;:ts  ;  Dr.  Larue  would  lose  his  patients  ;  another  would 
lose  his  customers  and  the  publishers  of  |)apers  would  have 
to  give  up  their  business.  Moreover,  socially  they  would  be 
ruined. 

We  have  not  time  to  follow  out  into  its  details  this  phase 


i 


The  Lilitral   W'lii'j  (<;'  (lit:  Ltiitif.  76 

of  the  quei=tit)ti.  Kiioii^h  1iji>  ot't'ii  said  to  k'lul  iiu'ii  to  w- 
rtect.  Doiiij^  this  tliey  cuiiMot  tail  to  sc.-o  how  serious  it  is. 
The  lilti'i'aliziiig  iiifliieiices  of  ^Vinericaii  institutions,  with- 
out positive,  ai:<m'ssive  niissi(jiiary  w(jrk  unionjr  the  French 
in  view  of  their  conversion  to  Christ,  far  from  helpinir  the 
country  hurt  it.  Heli^fious  cohn  ictions,  which  tlmujih 
harmful,  are  in  some  measure  useful  und  better  thuniiillde- 
lety,  are  being  destroyed.  The  men  in  wohm  they  are  des- 
troyed, do  not  cease  tor  all  that  to  be  the  allies  of  Rome  in 
her  warfare  against  American  institutions.  'I'licy  help  her 
to  carry  out  her  jxditical  schemes,  because  ^he  will  rewa-d 
them.  Through  the  great  inrtuenee  she  wields  in  jiolitics, 
she  will  give  them  government  berths  and  political  honors. 

Every  one  knows  tliat  government  otliccs  are  tilled  all 
over  the  countrv,  l^v  Romanists. 

There  is  but  one  power  on  which  to  depend,  and  tliat  is 
the  Gospel  of  .lesus  Christ  connnuiiicated  through  Chi'istian 
education  such  as  gives  the  French  Protestan*  College  at 
Springtield,  Mass.,  the  i)rea(diing  of  the  (rospel  such  as  is 
heard  in  our  various  French  Protestant  churches  and  nii<s- 
ions,  the  distribution  of  God's  Word  in  Fren.)h  amont:  the 
people,  the  circulation  of  a  paper  like  Lr  Ciloijiu  Frn,iv<,- 
Americain  these  are  the  agencies  that  will  save  New  Kn- 
"•land  from  the  dani;ers  of  French  Romanism  and  Fniceh 
infidelity  to  which  the  former  is  rapidly  leading  this  popu- 
lation. Hence  our  plea  for  the  evangelization  of  these 
musseSc 


^ 

II 


TT; 


'I 


if, 


i'  I 


F*f 


m  \ 


CIIAPTKK  in. 


I 


r 


WKAK    AN1>    INll'DUMKl)    I'HOTKSTANTS. 

The  sirenyth  of  Romaiii.-in  in  any  Protestant  c-cnuUry,  will 
always  be  commensurate  with  the  weakness  ot"  that  country's 
Protestantisu^  Given  a  well-inlnrmctl,  wide-awake,  vigi- 
lent,  aggressive  christian  evangelical  church,  there  is  but 
little  danger  to  be  f'eaied  from  that  terrible  foe  of  christian 
liberty,  Ultramontanism. 

How  '"i  it  in  New  England?  How  is  it  in  this  country? 

We  do  not  iiesitate  to  say  that  French  I'ltramontanism 
finds  one  of  its  strongest  allies,  in  that  large  army  of  unin- 
formed and  weak  Protestants,  which  the  last  (juarter  of  our 
centUTV  has  created. 

It  is  not  easy  to  speak  theti'uth  on  so  vital  a  matter  with- 
out giving  otr^nce.  The  mission  (,f  men  wortliy  the  name, 
is  uo{  however  to  please,  but  to  speak  the  truih,  kindly  and 
in  love,  but  vet  without  fear. 

It  is  only  within  recent  years  that  the  Protestant  clergy 
and  laity  of  New  England  have  had  this  Roman  Catholic 
question  pressed  upon  their  attention.  The  ministers  of 
course   knew  something  of  the  system,  but  had  no  spi'ci;'.! 


li 


I   ♦ 


Wilt/,:  and  Ciinif'onind  Prtifrsfio,/)- 


77 


occiifiioii,  save   111  exceprioiiiil    cases,  ',0  i^ivi',  oIdsc  attention 
to  the  doctrines,  religi(nis  and  political,  of  Lltraninntanisni. 


)0  tar  a,- 


the  V 


rencli  clergy  and  tlieir  plans  are  concei-iUM 


d, 


it  may  l)e  salely  said  that  notiiing  vas  known  ot  them  initil 
t!!e  tew  la.-t  yi'ars. 

It  has  heel)  the  privilege  of  the  writer  to  speak  on  this 
topic,  in  many  ot'tlie  leading  churches  of  New  Kngland, 
and  at  the  close  ot  the  addresses  he  has  liei-n  met  iiuaria- 
My  with  this  statenu'nt  :  "We  had  no  idi-a  of  tlie  static  of 
thuigs  aronnd  us.  We  never  kni'W  l\(Mnanisni  taught  such 
(hmgerous  doctrines".  Not  only  laymen  speak  thus,  hut  a 
great  many  ministers. 

Tlie  pa.-tors  o|'  our  churcht's  think  they  have  somefhing 
el.-e  to  do  tliaii  to  attack  the  Koman  Catholic  chui'ch.  Their 
duty  is  to  instruct  aiid  edity  their  own  people.  This  is  true 
and  yet  it  is  equally  true  that  a  pastor  owes  it  to  his  people 


an 


d  to  his  countrv  to  inform  himself  and  thus  he  aide  to  u 


form  his  flock  on  the  dangers  which  threaten  the  peace  and 
})rosperity  ot' the  luition. 

Without  discus<iiig  the  question  id'  the  duty  of  nniiisters 
and  peoj)le  on  this  j)articidar  point,  wi;  are  fully  justified  hy 
facts  when  weaflirm  that  Romanism,  asa  system  of  religion, 
of  morals  and  politics,  is  not  generally  known  l)y  the  pcojjle 
of  New  Kngland.  This  (dnnvh  h.is  heen  considered  as  one 
of  the  christian  denominations  of  the  land,  W(jrking  in  har- 
mony with  the  others  for  the  nphudding  cd' the  nation. 

In  view  ot'this,  when  men  who  have  been  compelled  hy 
circumstances  t(i  study  closely  the  system,  ex[)osii  its  prin- 
ciples,  point  out   their   anti-scriptural  character,   they  are 


ca 


lied  f; 


mafic 


ind  tl 


leir  statements  are  no 


t  bel 


ieve( 


I. 


It  is  a  Very  risky  thing  to  attempt  to  lift  the  veil  which 
covers  the  immoralities  of  the  clergy,  largely  due  to  the 
institution  of  the  celibacy  of  the  priests  and  the  confessional. 


4 


$ 


'\\  ' 


,y 


-f   ,;..| 


il 


'■^ 


I 


n' 


78  Yotir  Heritage. 

The  lact  that  there  is  an  ahirmiiig  amount  of  moral  cor- 
ruption is  attested  by  hundreds  of'christian  men  and  women, 
whom  God  has  delivered.     Yet  the  pul)lic  will  not  believe  it. 

7\y:ain  wiien  it  is  stated  that  the  Komisli  hierarchy  has 
sworn  ;iii  eternal  hatred  to  oin'  Protestant  American  life, 
to  (inr  institutions,  iiiid  are  plotting  to  overthrow  them, 
those  who  make  sneli  .-tateinents  are  called  alarmists,  or 
tire-i)rands.  it  is  so  easy  tor  uni.'il'ormed  men  to  think  they 
know  l)etit'r  than  others,  are  mort'  liberal  and   eidijihteneti. 

On  the  other  liainl  it  >eenis  so  hard  (or  these  nu'n  to  ad 
mil  that  it  is   po.-sible  that  they  do  not  know   everythin;j:, 
and    thus   take    the    troubU'  ol'  ascertaining  tor  themseh'es 
how  much    truth   tliei'i'    is,    in    those    xcry  serious   charges 
nijide  ajiainst  tiie  luuuan  Cittliolic  svslem. 

We  know  of  scoit's  of  men  w  lio  were  disposed  to  be  vei'v 
lenient  with  Ivomani.-ni,  who  di<l  not  at  all  ludieve  the 
statements  nuidi!  concerin"u!i  it.  Hut  al'ter  u'ivinu'  careful 
consideration  to  the'  whole  iptestion,  they  became  con\in 
ceil  that  it  is  the  dtuy  of  eveiy  enlightened  christian  believer 
t(/  oppose,  by  christian  methods  ami  in  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
with  all  the  power  (.I'his  heai't,  so  anti-scriptural  a  systeui, 
and  uproot  it  frtun  tiie  hearts  of  men. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  Koniish  hierarchy  has  been 
l>uiMing  its  ibi'tress  on  the  good  faith  of  uninfoi-med  Pro- 
testants. The  priests  knew  they  Avere  blindfolding  the 
people  of  this  nation.  Especially  has  this  been  true  of  the 
Freiu'h  speaking  portion  of  the  Romish  clergy. 

Nobody  knew  what  they  were  altout  and  they  have  been 
nble  to  lay  a  very  firm  and  broad  foimdation  on  which  Ame- 
rican influences  make  no  perceptible  impression. 

However,  a  great  change  has  taken  place  within  the  last 
three  years.  The  pulpits  of  New  England  and  of  the  wdiole 
country  are  now  directing  the  attention  of  the  people  to  this 


Weak  and  Uninfornitd  Frofi  stttnfs.  79 

vital  (luestiou.  A  great  deal  of  valuahle  ititoi'inatioii  has 
been  given  through  some  of  our  religious  papers.  We  wish 
we  could  say  as  much  of  the  secular  press  hut  the  vast 
majority  of  the  managers  helong  to  the  class  of  men  we 
purpose  now  alluding  to,  aiul  which  constitute  a  source  <»t 
danger  to  this  land. 

This  great  country,  which  has  fouglit  and  n'on  so  many 
illustrious  battles,  now  has  within  itself  and  as  j)art  of  itself, 
a  large  and  increasing  army  ofweak-kneed  Protestants,  who 
are  playinj^  into  the  hands  of  Ivomanism,  and  increasing  its 
strength  a  hundredfold. 

This  ally  of  the  French  invading  force,  recruits  its  army 
from  all  the  ranks  and  classes  of  socieiy.  To  begin  with, 
the  Protestant  clergy  furnish  a  goodly  number.  Ksj)ecially 
is  this  true  of  the  ministers  of  some  of  our  large,  wealthy, 
aristocratic  churches,  of  which  our  leading  politicians,  law- 
yers, merchants,  j(jurnalists  and  others  are  members. 

It  is  our  desire  to  be  fair  and  use  common  sense  in  tlu's<^ 
matters.  A  minister  cannot  alwavs  do  just  as  he  would 
wish.  There  is  a  time  for  everything  under  the  sun.  IJy 
doinj;  a  certain  thiiiii;  at  tlu'-  wroni;  timeairood  purpose  mav 
be  defeated.  To  bring  up  the  Romish  ([notion,  the  French 
r\angelistic  movement  too  soon  in  some  of  the  churches 
mentioned,  might  not  be  wise. 

This  said,  may  we  not  ask  whether  the  time  has  not 
fidlv  come,  for  the  church  of  (Jod  t"  unhud  its  banner  and 
liravelv  meet  this  foe  of  (rod  and  man?  Is  there  anvthiny 
to  gain  in  this  weak  and  over-prudent  policy  whi(di  has  pre- 
vailed in  many  of  those  centres,  capable  of  giving  the  very 
assistance  needed,  in  this  great  moral('onllict  ?  Do  we  ima- 
gine that  Rome  does  not  detect  the  weakness  and  cowardice 
which  prevails?  She  sees  it  otdy  too  clearly,  nuikes  full  use 
of  it,  and  despises  us  as  she  ought. 


I 


'iti 
t 


;^>: 


t  .'• 


f  r— 


I 
!!• 


!!i|i 


80  Yonr    IJrrit 


wcaltliy  mail  iii  niir  citv 


't<ji-. 


aid  to  us  the  Dtlicr  ilav  :  "  I 


ss   and    cowardice    or   so 


)f 


am    perfectly   sick    ui    tlie  weakrie 

many  I'mtestant  leaders.     They   are   disarmed   by    Home. 

Their  very  conscirDce  <eenis  imt  to  be  their  own." 

^^'(•  litid  the  same  .>tate  orihinirs  in  the  professional  ranks. 
J. a  vyei's  not  only  kci'p  alonf  but  rather  show  favor  to  Roni- 
ani-m.  I  rememlu'i-  t\'"o  'jemlemen  in  a  INIassachuseits 
city  wJKj  would  not  remain  connected  with  t!ie  French 
l*roU>taiit  cvan<relistic  movement,  because  one  had  Koman 
C"ai  III )lic  clients  and  the  other  claimed  he  had  lost  his  elec- 
tion as  a  member  of  the  leifislature  because  ot'  his  connec- 
tion with  this  moN'ement.  yVn  airent  of  a  la/'<fe  mamifac- 
turiii'j  cor|)oration  j)i'omi>ed  to  Lrive  8100  to  the  same  work. 


lint  refused  to  siizn  his  name 


Tl 


lese  men  were  a 


11 


nronu- 


nent  memiiers  of  Protestant  churche 


m 


This  I'ear  of  Kome.  on  the  part  of  l*rotestant  Americans, 
iikes  slaves  of  them,   places   fetters   around    their    hand.- 


and  feet,  which  must  make  the  nation  blush. 


A\'e  are  riiiht  in  savin;;'  that   the    Freiu'h   anti-Protestant 


an( 


1  A 


merican   movement   receives   stron^i 


help    I 


rom    this 


MUirce 


In  the  lii'st  jilace  these  nun  are  unwillinir  to  aid  u>  in 
our  elfoi'ts  to  i'\anii\di/ce  the  French.  They  are  afraid  that 
it  should  be  known  that  tiiey  have  ludped.  Then  thev 
must  have  an  e.\cu>e  Ibr  their  refusal,  and  in  formulatinir 
it,     thev     become    the   defenders  of   the    Homan    Catholic 


)owi'r 


Not  only  do  many  Protestants  refuse  to  help  us  in  this 
Avork  of  assimilation,  but  for  the  same  reason  <riven  above 
they  feel  comptdli'd  to  subscribe  to  Koman  Catholic;  works. 
They  build  pai'ochial  scdiools,  those  foes  of  our  republic, 
Homan  Catholic  churches  and  institutions.  This  moral 
weakness  has  retarded,  perhaps  more  than  anything  else,  this 


IVtak  and  Cninfunncd  Frotistaufs. 


81 


cvfUiifelistit'  work  in  c  anudii.     A  man  required  the  heroi-Jin 
of  a  martyr  to  break  l(jose  trom  the  errors  of  Homanism,  a 


tew  years  airo,  an 


a  t 


Ills    IS    s 


till  t 


rue   in   a   LM'eat    measure. 


Persecuted  bv  his  church,  ("ursed  by  its  clerL'y,  cast  away 
l)y  his  laniily  and  friends,  turned  out  of  iiis  situati(»n  by 
his  Roman  (.'atholic  employer,  the  convert  may  naturally 
look  for  sympathy  ami  help  from  members  of  Protestant 
Christian  churches. 

Does  he  find  it  ?  Instance  ui)on  instance  could  be  ^Mven, 
J!!  which  I'rotestant  enii)loyers  positively  refused  to  "jfive 
>ituations  to  these  worthy  men  and  women,  whom  the  (Jos- 
]iel  ol' Christ  had  made  better  Christians,  more  iniellijrent 
and  reliable  worknu'ii. 

The  reason  for  this  stranrije  treatment  has  already  been 
triveii.  Ivome  wouhl  hear  of  it  and  the  business  ol  these 
employers  wouM  sutier. 

These  coMNcrts  have  sought  refuge  against  fcucli  persecu- 
tion in  the  land  of  the  free,  or  it  might  be  more  accurate  to 
say,  the  country  which  once  was  the  land  of  the  free,  for 
of  late,  it  is  with  some  ditliculty  that  French  Protestants 
tniil  situations,  especially  as  clerks  in  stores  and  offices. 
The  American  merchant  wants  to  catch  the  French  Komaii 
Catholic  custom,  and  gives  the  preference  to  the  Freiudi 
Catholic.  Thus  it  is  that  a  premium  is  jjlaced  on  a  French 
Canadian  young  man's  connection  Avith  the  old  media-vul 
system  of  (Quebec.  As  a  Protestant  we  cannot  write  those 
things  witlujut  blushing. 

A  few  weeks  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  a  Christian 
Avoman,  who  has  left  the  Church  of  Home,  to  embrace  the 
teachings  of  God's  Word.  Thrown  helpless  and  penniless 
out  m  th(!  cold  world,  hated  by  Rome,  suspected  by  I'ro- 
testants,  in  a  moment  of  discouragement  she  writes  : 

"  My  life  is  sad  and  lonely  beyond  all  you  could  imagine. 


I 


ill 


J  • 


'»ti 


I 


I:  HI! 


I 


c^mm 


l! 


l»\ 


%, 


<S2  Your  Ilerifagij. 

If'l  liad  knnwii  half  of  the  diiru'iUties  I  would  have  tc» meet, 
1  would  never  have  left  the  convent,  Avhcre  at  least  1  had 
a  home." 

Such  words  should  ring  through  Protestant  America, 
and  create  a  burning  desire  to  helj)  these  poor  slaves  of  error. 
AVhen  fiod  o])i'ns  their  eyes,  shall  they  not  lind  warm 
hearts  to  receive  them? 

One  who  has  been  governor  of  one  of  our  States,  gave 
81  <><•<>  to  help  to  build  a  IJomish  college,  lie  refused  to 
givi!  a  cent  to  build  the  French  Protestant  Americau  Col- 
lege ot  Springlield,  Mass. 

In  a  town  of  Massachusetts,  three  members  of  a  Congre- 
gational clnnch  gave  lately  6I0UO  to  build  a  French  Roman 
Catholic  church. 

In  Detroit,  a  priest  came  to  a  merchant  and  asked  850. 
The  merchaiu  refused.  The  priest  said  :  ''AH  right,  liut 
you  need  not  expect  another  cent  from  us."  The  money 
Avas  given. 

The  question  ■we  ask  with  an  anxious  heart  is  this  one  : 
Is  there  any  occasion  to  fear  for  the  future  of  New  En- 
gland in  view  of  this  state  of  things,  which  is  ten-fold 
worse  than  has  been  depicted? 

We  ask  again,  what  is  to  prevent  Rome  from  realizing 
her  plans?  She  has  a  strong,  well-organized  clergy,  Avork- 
ing  like  a  mighty  army.  She  has  the  masses  under  her. 
She  has  those  whom  your  schools  liberalize.  They  have 
lost  faith  in  her  but  it  suits  their  purpose  to  keep  on  good 
terms  with  her.  She  is  lieli)cd  by  a  veiy  large  number  of 
uninlbrmed  Protestants,  and  iinally  there  comes  that  army 
of  Protestants,  unworthy  the  name,  who  care  more  for 
wealth,  honor  and  position,  than  for  the  safety  of  the  na- 
tion.    All  these  combine  to  aid  her  and  they  belong  to 


^ 


Weak  and  Uninformtd  Proti-st'Difs.  Ho 

what  iiro  callo'l  the  liiglier  class  of  society,  where  wcahli 
and  influence  lie. 

We  can  but  ask  the  God  of  nations  to  arise  in  his  miglit 
and  awaken  an  interest  in  the  good  men  and  woini-n  whose 
attention  has  not  been  drawn  to  this  matter,  that  tliey  may 
help  us  Christian  "foreigners"  in  this  great  evangelistic 
work. 

Does  it  not  seem  strange  that  it  should  devolve  on  those 
called  here  "foreigners,"  to  plead  with  the  descendants  ot 
the  Puritans  and  Pilgrims,  that  ilu>y  may  jirotect  their  dear 
old  New  England  from  the  moral  nuu  intellectual  bonda'a' 
of  Komauism,  which  Avere  worse  than  Southern  slavery. 


I 


PI 


A 


•   1 


■(-  it- 


<iemm 


CIIAI'IKR  IV. 


I' 


m  I 


i 

i 


Ml 


SF.LF-SKi:KIN(i    IM  )l.ITI([AN.S, 

The  politics  of  this  hind  are  in  aiiythinir  Ijiit  a  (lesirablc 
condition.  The  Democratic  party  has  been  tor  years  the 
choice  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  Irish  have  become 
naturah">;ed  in  hirL^e  numbers  and  have  so  tilled  in  tlie  ranks 
of  this  party  as  to  control  all  its  movements. 

Tiie  Republican  l)arty,  whicli  once  deserved  the  name  of 
*' Cirand  old  party,"  because  of  the  signal  services  it  has 
rendered  the  country,  has  singularly  degenerated  in  latter 
years.      In  fact  it  lias  alinost  hillen  frcjm  grace. 

Its  wavering  and  inconsistent  poli{;y  on  the  temperance 
question  has  fairly  disgusted  a  very  hirge  number  of  staunch 
Kej)ublicans.  So  true  is  this,  that  thousands  who  do  not 
fully  agree  with  Prohibitionists,  abstained  from  giving  their 
vote  fur  Republican  candidates  at  the  last  elections. 

What  is  true  of  the  temperance  question  is  ecpudly  true 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  issue,  closely  connected  as  it  is  with 
the  li(pior  trafHc,  which  is  very  largely  in  the  hands  of 
Romanists.  There  is  too  much  truth  in  the  now  famous 
statement  :  "Rum,  Romanism   and  Rebellion."     That  the 


of 

llilS 

Iter 


Silf-Sivkintj  J'c'.iticians.  85 

three  liave  gone  and  still  gu  t(jgether,  history  conchisively 
proves. 

The  rt'sults  of  the  elections  of  the  fall  of  181K),  the  defeat 
of  so  many  Repuhlican  candidates,  should  not  be  considered 
as  a  democratic  victory.  It  is  i-atht-r  a  solemn  protest  made 
by  the  true  and  lionest  Rcpul>licans  of  this  land  of  the  Puri- 
tans, against  the  political  corru{)tion  by  which  tlu!  party  is 
now  over-run. 

Let  the  Ivepublicans  face  bravely  and  s(|uarely  the  great 
moral  issues  of  the  day,  let  them  cease  making  of  rum  and 
Komanism  their  allies,  and  they  will  get  back  tlu-  large  pro- 
hibition vote  atid  the  lai'ger  number  of  conscientious  men, 
who  now  abstain  from  Noting,  because  they  cannot  and  will 
not  make  an  alliance  with  two  of  the  greatest  foes  of  Protest- 
ant republican  institutions,  rum  and  Komanism. 

This  republic  is  fast  hastening  to  the  position  which  the 
Dominion  of  Canada  has  reached.  This  J>riti>h  colony 
receives  its  politics  from  Home.  This  is  no  I'hetorical 
phrase.  It  expresses  a  truth.  In  the  Pi-ovince  of  (Quebec 
no  government  can  stand  Avhich  would  rel'use  to  obey  the 
cardinal,  his  bishops  and  priests.  In  Ontario,  the  so-call- 
ed liberal  party  owes  its  tenure  ot  ollice  to  the  Koman 
Catholic  vote.  In  the  other  provinces  the  Komish  vote  is 
not  so  important. 

AV'hen  it  comes  to  Dominion  politics  the  Province  of  Que- 
bec holds  the  key  of  the  situation.  She  can  dictate  to  the 
Prime  Minister  of  the  Dominion,  lie  does  not  dare  op- 
pose the  wishes  of  this  K(jman  Catholic  i)rovince,  because 
its  fifty  or  more  votes,  would  throw  him  out  of  power. 

We  repeat  then,  that  Home  dictates  to  the  Dominion  of 
Canada,  what  its  politics   shall  be. 

We  are  fast  hasteninj»  to  this  humiliating  position  in  this 
land  of  freedom. 


■itl 


if 


\n 


V     I 


m 


iiii 


t  ■ 
I 


\t 


\M 


mm 


if 

ill 


.11 


li!.: 


m 

ifii 


86  yo?</'  Ilcritaiji'. 

One  of  the  stronp;est  powers  in  the  i)oHtical  world  is  the 
secuhir  press.  It  were  idle  to  attempt  to  deny  the  state- 
ment that  the  press  of  the  country  is  very  largely  the  slave 
of  Honianism,  and  is  to  a  good  degree  gagged  by  that  tre- 
mendous power. 

It  feels  constrained  t(j  handle  the  Romish  church  with 
great  care  and  tenderness  for  palpable  reasons. 

In  the  first  place,  it  relies  on  the  independence  of  Protest- 
ant readers  for  protection  against  the  boycott  which  might 
come  from  them.  They  will  not  refuse  a  daily  nor  with- 
draw their  advertisements,  because  this  j)aper  is  partial  to 
Rome  and  does  not  give  entire  satisfaction  to  Protestants. 

Romanists,  however,  ai'e  slaves.  If  the  press  does  not 
flatter  the  church,  if  on  the  contrary  it  l>rings  to  light  its 
dangerous  principles,  reports  clearly  and  fully  the  damag- 
ing discourses  which  some  of  tlie  leading  minds  of  this 
country  have  been  giving  of  late,  the  Romish  boycott  will 
be  ai)plied  and  the  long  list  of  Roman  Catholic  subscribers 
and  advertisers,  will  dwindle  to  nothing. 

For  this  reason  the  secular  press  of  to-day  does  not  deal 
fairly  with  some  of  the  most  serious  problems  of  the  age  : 
The  duty  of  the  state  in  the  education  of  its  future  citizens  ; 
tl'e  dangers  arising  from  tlie  parochial  school  system  ;  and 
the  union  of  church  and  state  :  the  assimilation  of  the  va- 
rious nationalities  in  this  rej)ublic.  These  and  kindred 
questions  are  not  dealt  with  in  all  their  bearings,  and  in 
suggesting  solutions  and  remedies,  the  religiou^  asjject  is 
too  often  ignored,  although  it  is  well  known,  that  every- 
thing hangs  on  that.  The  Roman  Catholic  religion  is  the 
irreconcilable  foe  of  the  Constitution  of  this  nation,  and  a 
press  worthy  of  the  name  American,  should  not  be  either 
so  intellectually  or  morally  Aveak  as  to  ignore  so  vital  a 
question  in  its  discussions. 


;t 


Stlf-StckiiHj  Politicians.  87 

Some  of  the  leadiii;^  thinkers,  men  whose  iu(I;^'moiit, 
wisdom  and  piitriulism  are  l)eyi>Md  (luestion,  have  (hiring 
tiie  thi'ee  past  years,  been  discussing  these  living  issues,  he- 


tore   vast  audiences,   in   maiiv    ot'  our    hir<'e   cities 


'1' 


le 


press  has  been  giving  the  meagerest  rejjorts  of  these  timely 
and  masterly  address(.'s,  selecting  those  parts  which  it  was 
not  very  important  to  iTjxn-t,  hut  ignoring  the  very  points 
on  which  the  people  need  information.  N  cry  often  a  re- 
port of  this  kind  is  gi\en  :  '*  .Mi'.  X  made  a  harangue 
a-'ainst  the  Church  oi  liome,  deiiouncin!.'-  it  in   the  severest 


terms. 


Tl 


le  I'acts,  arLrumeiits  and  weig 


ditv  c 


onsM 


lerat 


ions 


urged  by  thest;  taithful  and  patriotic  speakers,  did  not  re- 
ceive as  much  as  a  passing  notice,  because  the  C'hurcdi  of 
Rome  would  not  like  it. 

At  a  great  and  i-epresentative  gathering,  an  address  was 
made  on  the  dangers  whicii  threaten  New  Kngland.  One 
of  the  leading  })aj)ers  of  Canada  stated  the  next  day,  that 
by  reason  of  the  facts  given,  it  was  unequalled  in  dramatic 
force  and  power.  A  leading  B(»ston  j)aper  reporteil  this 
address  and  anorhei' (,t' similai'  ini])ort,  which  had  occupied 
over  an  hour,  in  the  sj)ace  of  ten  lines,  but  gave  to  a   mild 


tl 


U'ee-miiHites    cruu.-ism    o 


f    t 


ie>e 


-peeches,     ta\draole 


to 


Rome,  a  c(jlumn  and  a  half,    with    headiiiLi's   in    lar"e   bold 


tyi)e. 

"NV'e  know  what  answer  is   gi\en    by    the    secular    press, 
when   such  criticisms  as  these  are  ventured.     We  are  told 


that  these  Daners  are  business  enteri)rises  and 


mus 


tb 


e  con- 


ducted on  "business  princijjles."  It  would  Ije  unbusiness- 
like to  sav  too  umch  a<jainst  Roman  Catholic  airgression. 
It  would  be  bad  i)olicv. 


It  is  not  in  our  pi'ovinre  to   discuss   this   questi(jn. 


Th 


only  point  we  wish  to  make  is  that  the  secular  press  is  not 
disposed  to  take  up  this  ijuportant  issue   and   discuss  it  on 


iP  ■ 


ill 

if 
■■'M. 


'tl 

ill 


w , 


4il. 


li^  ^ 


i 


M 


3     . 


m 


88  Vniir  Iltrltaijr. 

it^  own  iiMiit.-".  It  lK'C(inir>  oin-  ol'tlio  allie>  d'  Koniaiii.sni 
iiistt'iKl  of  bciii^  ill)  opjioiiciit  (pftliMt  (laiigeioiis  jinwer. 

This  is  prc'-iiiiiiiciitly  tiMif  of  party  pajnTs.  Tliry  mit  in 
mortal  1fi'r()r  Ic.-l  tlay  sliDiiId  (lil'cinl  llir  Kdiiii-h  pi-wci' ami 
thus  cause  thi!  hi>s  of  the  solid  Knuiaii  Catholic  \(iti;,  to  the 
pai'ty  they  uithold  and  slavisjdy  serve. 

AN'Iiat  is  true  of  the  pri'ss  is  thtuhly  true  of  our  politicians, 
from  tile  jn'c-ident ,  down.  In  v'lvw  of  the  I'act  that  the 
two  LM'eat  polilical  j)arties  o(  tiiis  country  ai-e  pi'etty  evoidy 
<livided,  It  Incomes  a  political  necessity  to  keep  on  good 
terms  with  the  Ivonian  Catholic  hierar<'hy.  In  lact  it  is  not 
.suHiei"nt  to  remain  m'Utral.  The  j)arty  that  is  to  have  the 
Koman  (Jalhtdic  vote  must  exercise  som»!  linoritism  to- 
warils  this  church  Large  sums  ot'  money  have  Iteen  paid 
out  of  the  ])nl)lic  treasury  for  sectarian  purposes  in  Xew 
York  and  other  pUices. 

It  is  exceedingly  diHicult  to  obtain  legislation  against  the 
encroachments  of  the  papal  church,  because  it  Avoidd  wf)rk 
mischief  lor  the  party  gi'anting  it,  at  the  next  elections. 

For  similar  I'easons,  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  obtain 
the  presence  of  gov»'rnment  ollicials  at  gatherings  which 
have  in  view  the  evangelization  and  Americanization  of 
the  Fr»'nch  of  this  conntiT.  Whilst  these  men  can  iind  it 
convenient  to  attend  larjri'  IJoman  Catholic  gatherings,  the 
opening  of  a  new  college,  or  coiuent  or  parochial  school 
or  the  graduating  exercises  of  the  same,  they  cannot  attend 
a  gathering  that  is  anti-Koman  Catholic.  We  do  not  here  re- 
fer to  unwariantable  attacks  which  are  made  on  Romanists, 
but  liave  in  mind  movements  wisely  directed,  by  judicious 
men  who  know  how  to  keep  within  proper  l)ounds. 

Every  year  the  French  Canadian  Koman  Catholics  have 
conventions  in  various  parts  of  the  coinUry.  Wc  shall 
speak  more  fully  of  these  in  the  nexrt  chapter.     Suffice  it  to 


SiJj-Svi:kinfj  J't'Iiflrifiiis.  89 

.-!iy  tliiit  tlii'st'  coiivcMtioiis  juc  j)itlitic;il  iiml  ri'ligious.  Tliey 
liiivo  uiins  iiiid  jdirpdsi's  Avhicli  niuy  l»t;  cliaracU'rizud  us 
aiiti-l'rotystaiit  and  auti-Aiiuricaii. 

Still  tlit'V  Jii'i' <'()Uiitciiaii<'t'd  l»v  tlif  L:i>\i'niui-  oi'tlu'  state 
and  till'  mayor  dl"  tin-  ciiy  in  wliicji  tlifv  nuTt.  'I'lir  IfadtTs, 
v.lio  tluniMJs  cs  ar*.'  as  a  rule  sflf-scckin^'  {)()litirians,  lind 
no  dillicnlty  in  obtaining'  I'avoi-s  tVnni  Imili  jioliiical  jiartit-s. 
The  Fi'i'iicli  |iaj)i.'i's  tlicy  juihlisli,  !_'ft  aiUei'ii.-cnu'iits  lr<in» 
Anu'rican  nK'rrIianl>  w  itliont  aii\'  \(iv  LMfat  tlHirt.  It  |)avs 
tlii'iu.  Tla'Sf  inci-cliaiits  will  '/i\v  iionian  Catholic  cK'rks 
]ila(TS  in  tluii'  .-tore-  I'atlicr  than  to  French  I'rotestaiits.  It 
jiays  licltci'. 

It  is  unni'ccs.-ai'V  to  say  more,  in  tlii<  dii'cction.  Our 
contention  is  lliat  New  I-Jiiiland  i>  thri'atciu'd.  French 
I'llramontanisnt  i>  the  toe  that  has  resolved  on  comjuering 
thi\-e  Puritan  >tates. 

It  is  ustron^ijiowerhy  itself.  Were  it  unaided  wo  mijrlit 
jierhaps  all'ord  to  lanyh  at  its  jiretensions.  Hut  facts  go  to 
,<-lio\v  that  the  very  forces  upon  which  Protestant  New  En- 
gland relii'.>  ior  defiMise,  ari;  either  abjectly  inditlerent  or 
worse  still  ai'e,  l)y  reason  of  fear  and  through  selt-interest, 
in  league  with  the  enemy. 

Our  j)ur{)ose  is  to  arouse  j)i;l)iic  attention,  to  lead  intUien- 
tial  ministers  in  I'M-ry  religi(uis  body  to  examine  this  ques- 
tion and  act  in  accordance  with  the  light  they  are  sure  to 
obtain  ;  to  lead  Christian  ))(ditician>  to  assist  those  who  with 
the  best  of  niotiw.-,  are  struggling  to  bi-ing  about  thi;  unifi- 
cation ot  the  races  in  thisiepuldic.  by  the  ditru-iion  of  Cliriat- 
i;.n  education  and  the  inculcation  of  right  principles  of 
iroverument. 


:|J| 


l| 


1 


.  f 

•     i 

'  if. 

-M 


(in  I 


CHAPTER  V 


111  :|  I 


ENfilXES    OF  WAKFAIJE 


SECTION  I. THE   KOMAN    CATHOLIC 


CHURCH. 


The  strength  of  Roiiifinism  lie.-*  largely  in  its  perfect  or- 
ganization. Like  a  mighty  army,  this  chureh  marshalled 
by  generals  and  sul)-oHicers,    all  subject  to  one    supreme 


head, 


marcnes  ni  unison. 


It  does  not  carry  on  its  woi'k  in  a 

(1 


hap-1 


lazard  w 


1 


'ly 


itl 


las 


well-detined  j)lans,  and  cxocutes  them  with  great  wisdom. 
A  perfect  system  pi'evails  in  its  i'eligi(jus  and  educational 
work  and  as  a  result  ol'this  wise  course  of  action  success 
attends  her  elVoi-ts. 

"What  is  true  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  as  a  whole, 
is  eqiuilly  true,  ot'tlie  Freiudi  wing  of  the  hierarchy. 

The  very  lirst  thing  the  clergy  dues  is  to  plant  the  French 
Roman  Catholic  church  wherever  it  linds  a  group  of  French 


sue  a 


kin 


U"  peop 


peo| 


lie  h 


ii'";e  enouizli  to  warrant  them  m  ilomg  so 


de 


There  have  been   dilhcidties   in   nuui 


y  parishes  in  New 
i^ngland  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the  various  dioceses 
^vere  under  the  control  of  Ii'ish  Ijishops,    who  insisted  on 


.      ? 


tK' 


placing  Irish  priests  over  French  Canadian  parishes.  It 
has  been  felt  that  it  was  in  the  interests  of  the  papal  church 
to  accede  to  the  demands  of  the  French  in  so  far  as  ecclesi- 
astical authority  was  not  jeopardized. 

During  the  last  few  years  a  hnrge  number  of  French 
churches  have  been  built  and  priests  from  Canada,  France 
and  Belgium  have  been  placed  over  them.  Very  often  these 
priests  are  of  questionable  character  ;  they  are  sent  here 
after  liaving  disgraced  their  calling  in  Furope  or  Canada. 
The  French  priest  of  Ilolyoke  who  died  a  fen-  months  ago, 
was  time  and  again  found  in  a  state  of  intoxicaticjn  on  the 
street  and  even  at  pul)lle  iratherinus. 

The  Frencli  Caiholic  church  is  one  of  the  strongest 
forces  to  keep  the  Frencli  Caiuidians  of  New  England  away 
from  our  American  life.  There  the  children  are  taught 
the  good  old  doctrine  "out  of  the  Churcli  of  Home  no  sal- 
vation." There  the  people  are  warned  against  Protestant 
influences.  They  are  urged  to  remain  true  to  t!,t-ir  old 
faith  and  to  all  the  traditions  of  K(jnuin  Catholic  Quebec. 

They  are  warned  against  what  is  callc<l  the  dangers  of 
assimihition  and  j)areiits  are  threatened  with  everlasting 
damnation  if  they  send  their  children  to  the  public  schools. 

Very  often  their  [)uli)its  are  used  for  pcditical  [)urj)oscs 
and  the  party  that  resolves  upon  helping  Rome  is  licM  nu 
as  the  one  worthy  of  support.  Sonu'times  also  the  recal- 
citrant members  are  denounced  and  the  flock  is  warned 
against  them. 

There  also  is  found  that  most  dangerous  institution 
knoAvn  as  the  confessional,  through  which  so  nuiny  yoimg 
women  have  lost  and  an-  losing  their  lujnor,  and  by  means 
of  which  priests  who  otherwise  might  have  been  honest, 
have  fallen. 

It  is  through  the  confessional  th  it  the  priests  become  ac- 


if 


ill 


ii, 


'I 


I  »•• 


ft 


I  I 


I 


li^  i 


92  Yo)(r   ILritarje. 

quaintcd  with  much  of  what  transpire?^  in  your  American 
homes.  The  taithf'ul  and  submisi^ive  Bridget,  feels  com- 
pelled to  answer  every  (juestion  the  "  holy  lather"  se(!s  Ih  to 
put,  and  thus  everything  which  the  Roman  Catlndic  ser- 
vant knows  the  priests  obtains  knowledge  of. 

It  will  be  said  by  some  that  in  this  free  country  it  is 
Rome's  j)rivilej;e  to  build  her  ehurches  and  teach  her  peo- 
ple according  to  her  tenets. 

We  are  not  aware  of  having  said  a  sin  trie  word  contrary 
to  this.  It  docs  not  however  change  the  fact  that  the  per- 
petuating of  the  old  median-al  principles  of  Roman  Catholic 
Quebec  on  New  England  soil,  is  dc".-'imental  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  Fi-ench  Canadian  population,  and  must  cer- 
tainly be  most  injurious  to  the  commercial,  intellectual  and 
moi'al  life  of  these  States. 

^^'e.  have  reason  to  be  surprised  when  American  Prot- 
testants  contrilnite  large  sums  of  money  to  build  up  Romish 
churches.  They  are  helping  to  perpetuate  a  system  that 
has  been  detrimental  to  the  moral  and  intcllectal  growth 
of  the  i)eoj)le  for  whom  they  build  them;  they  are  helping 
to  perpetuate  a  system  which  cannot  encourage  the  French 
to  fall  in  wiih  (jur  American  civilization,  because  it  is  the 
natural  enemy  of  Romish  principles. 

If  it  be  said  :  "  It  is  better  to  give  them  a  church  of  their 
faith  than  to  see  them  absolutely  churchless,"  we  answer: 
There  is  another  alternative.  Give  them  the  truth  as 
taught  by  Jesus  Christ.  Instead  of  enabling  the  priest  to 
keep  them  in  servitude  by  furnishing  them  with  money  to 
build  churches,  give  the  money  to  the  Home  JNIinsionary  So- 
cieties of  the  various  Protestant  churches,  that  they  maybe 
able  to  j)rosecute  a  vigorous  missionary  work  among  the 
French  Canadians.  They  will  be  the  first  to  thank  you  for 
it  and  your  own  country  will  owe  you  a  debt  of  gratituch.'. 


Enyines  of  War/an' 


93 


SECTION    II. TIIK    FUKNCII    PAROCHIAL    SCHOOL. 

The  next  a<,'ency  used  by  the  French  Caniidiiin  liierarchy 
to  keep  the  French  Canadians  in  the  same  condition  in 
■which  we  find  them  when  they  lirst  come  to  New  Knghind, 
is  the  parochial  school. 

It' the  State  has  nothing  to  say  in  relation  with  the  religi- 
oijs  education  of  its  citizens,  it  most  eertaiidy  is  its  privi- 
lege and  duty  to  enipiire  what  kind  of  education  the  children 
wiso  to-morrow  shall  be  voters  and  citizens,  are    receiving. 

It  must  not  be  fortrotten  that  this  country  is  a  rei)ul)lic. 
It  is  the  people  who  make  laws  and  rule.  What  the  French 
speaking  citizens  will  be,  for  what  measures  their  votes 
Avill  be  cast,  is  largely  settled  (hiring  the  years  of  twelve 
and  twenty. 

This  country  has  jirovided  an  admirable  system  of  public 
schools,  which  should  in  no  wise  have  been  tampered  with 
in  the  hope  of  satisfying  the  church  of  liome.  The  great 
jirinciples  of  morality  as  taught  by  Jesus  Christ  should  be 
taught  in  schools,  because  none  but  pagans  have  a  right  to 
object  to  them. 

It  is  [o  this  system  ol'  education  that  the  United  States  owe 
in  a  large  measure  their  wonderful  growth.  The  French 
hierarchy  cannot  but  be  out  of  sympathy  with  our  conunon 
schoiils.  They  fear  them  not  so  nuu-h  because  of  what 
tlu'y  are  as  because  of  what  they  are  not.  It  is  iu)t  inten- 
ded that  they  shall  turn  o\it  young  people  who  have  sur- 
rendered their  right  to  think  ami  judge  for  themselves. 

It  is  not  intended  that  the  graduates  of  our  scIkjoIs  shall 
believe  that  liberty  is  a  pestilential  heresy  ;  that  as  it  atfects 
religion,  it  is  not  to  be  tolerated. 

Nor  is  it  intended  that  they  shall  teach  that  there  is  but 
one  true  church,  and  that  it  has  received  power  from  God 
to  dictate  in  all  things  to  the  state,   and  tiiat  in   case  the 


ti 


11 

It 

1 

ff 

E    ' 

1 

¥  1 

ll 

E 

'i     » 

A 

' , 

» 

1 

!     I   '  * 


94  lou/'  Heritage. 

State  should  order  anytliing  in  oppositiont  othis  church,  the 
latter  must  be  oltcyed  and  the  former  disobeyed. 

It  is  not  intended  finally  that  these  schools  shall  teach 
more  French  than  English,  more  French  than  American 
history,  and  inculcate  the  idea  that  God  designs  that  the 
French  Roman  Catholic  race  shall  remain  distinct  on  Ame- 
rican soil,  Avith  an  education  wholly  Romish,  Avith  a  civdi- 
zatioii  co-equal  with  that  of  (Quebec  two  hundred  years  ago. 

In  order  to  cause  such  ideas  to  prevail,  it  is  necessary  to 
have  schools  whose  special  mission  it  is  to  teach  them. 
The  parochial  schools  exist  very  largely  for  that  purpose. 
Children  and  young  people  breathing  American  air  could 
not  have  such  notions  were  they  not  inculcated  with  great 
persistency  and  care. 

We  claim  that  the  majority  of  the  principles  instilled  in 
the  minds  of  the  children  in  these  schools,  are  revolutionary 
jn  their  tendency  ;  tli^j'  cannot  but  lead  to  disloyalty,  and 
the  State  should  have  something  to  say  in  the  matter. 

The  French  parochial  school  becomes  a  menace  to  repub- 
lican institutions  and  it  is  the  most  effective  barrier  to  pre- 
vent the  unification  of  the  two  races  in  New  England. 

It  is  manifest  that  the  Americans  are  wholly  unaware  of 
the  state  of  things  already  existing  in  our  state,  and  of  the 
plans  in  the  same  direction  for  the  future.  If  matters  are 
allowed  to  go  on,  a  state  of  society  will  be  created  which 
Avill  cause  endless  troubles  in  Massachusetts  and  other 
states. 

To  be,  sure  thousands  of  French  Canadian  citizens  in 
our  commonwealth  are  wholly  dissatisfied  with  the  educa- 
tion which  their  countrymen  are  receiving,  and  yet  they 
are  next  to  helpless  in  bringing  about  a  different  state  of 
things.  They  know  all  about  the  parochial  school  system 
of  the  Province  of  Quebec,  for  they  have  suffered  and  are 


EiKjincs  of  Warfare.  95 

still  sutf'ering  from  it.  They  luive  watched  the  results  ut  it 
in  Massachusetts,  among  the  French  Canadians,  and  are 
one  in  saying  that  it  is  detrimental  to  their  best  interests. 

Some  Americans  -will  say,  luive  said:  "So  much  the 
worse  for  tliem.  Let  them  go  to  public  schools."  Why  do 
they  not  attend  these,  is  it  asked? 

Because  of  the  hydra-headed  monster,  which  you  have 
allowed  too  long  in  this  free  laTsd  of  yours,  the  boycott ; 
because  their  religious  liberty  is  not  respected. 

But  others  will  say  :  "We  have  no  particular  interest 
in  the  Frencii.  What  does  it  matter  to  us  what  education 
they  receive," 

Then  we  say,  very  well.  We  set  aside  this  feeling  or 
mere  sentiment  and  we  place  ourselves  on  the  broader 
ground  of  citizenship  and  we  demand,  as  citizens,  that  in- 
quiry be  made  into  the  kind  of  education  the  majority  of 
the  French  children  of  New  England  are  receiving.  Is  it 
of  such  a  character  as  to  put  them  tn  rapimrt  and  in  fidl 
sympathy  with  your  American  life  and  civilization? 

This  is  the  vital  question  and  we  say  that  not  only  has 
the  state  the  right  to  ask  it,  but  it  fails  in  its  duty  when  it 
does  not  in(piire  into  it.  Is  this  nation  going  to  jeopardize 
its  permanency,  is  it  going  to  stultify  itself,  in  order  not  to 
disj)lease  those  who  have  sworn  an  eternal  enmity  to  those 
institutions,  which  are  the  only  guarantee  for  her  future 
prosperity,  we  might  say  for  her  very  existence? 

It  is  idle  to  think  that  in  a  free  republic  a  man,  or  a  set 
of  men,  can  live  unto  themselves.  The  vote  of  an  unedu- 
cated or  of  an  ill-educated  citizen,  has  as  much  weigl^t  as 
that  of  loyal  Americans. 

It  IS  quite  clear  that  the  French  population  of  these 
states,  which  already  is  very  large,  which  is  increasing  ra- 
pidly, both  by  immigration  and  by  birth,  is  being  educated 


M 


n\ 


!l 


,.►:. 


!      '! 


;  ■  1. 


m 


I 


IMH 


11 


on 


Your   Heritarje. 

in  wrong  and  (liingerous  lines.  I  feci  satisfied,  alter  a  very 
careful  examination  of  the  whole  question,  that  if  this  state 
cannot  succeed  in  some  constitutional  way,  in  making 
known  to  tlic  French  youth  the  principles  which  lie  at  the 
foundation  of  re{)ublican  institutions  ;  if  the  state  cannot 
make  the  French  Canadians  understand  that  wdiat  is  demanded 
by  this  nation  is,  America  for  Americans,  one  nation,  one  oih- 
cial  language,  one  undivided  republic  composed  of  citizens 
who  honestly  pledge  their  allegiance  to  the  chief  magistrate 
of  this  nation,  we  will  have  battles  such  as  those  which 
are  being  waged  in  the  j)arliament,  in  the  provincial  legisla- 
tures of  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

Twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  a  large  number  of  liberal, 
broad-minded  and  enlightened  Canadian  statesmen,  fought 
for  a  common  school  system  for  (Quebec  and  for  the  whole 
country.  They  foresaw  the  troubles  that  would  arise,  if 
the  French  children  were  educated  by  themselves  and  in 
special  ruts,  instead  of  receiving  a  broad,  non-sectarian 
education  with  English-speaking  children.  These  true  pa- 
triots were  not  sup])orted,  uie  Protestants  were  too  optim- 
istic to  imagine  that  evils  such  as  those  predicted  would 
come  upon  Canada,  by  reason  of  sectarian  and  separate 
school  systems.  Now  that  the  predicted  troubles  have 
come  to  Canada,  they  admit  that  they  blundered.  If  En- 
glish and  French,  Protestant  and  Roman  Catholic  children 
had  been  educated  in  common  schools,  the  grave  troubles 
over  the  dual  language,  the  racial  antipathies  which  now 
run  so  high  and  which  will  end  in  bloodshed,  would  never 
have  been  heard  of  in  British  Canada. 

A  Roman  Catholic  politician  of  Montreal  said  in  my 
hearing  a  few  weeks  ago,  to  a  Protestant :  "If  Canada  is 
in  a  turmoil  to-day,  if  it  is  on  the  eve  of  bloody  scenes,  if 
French  and  English  are  at  daggers  drawn  ;  if  the  former 


Enrjxui'H  of  Warfare.  97 

threaten  to  bre.ik  loose  from  the  confederation  to  establish 
a  separate  French  nation  in  (Quebec,  attribute  all 
this  to  the  weak  policy  of  Protestants.  Thirty  years  ago 
we  tried  to  show  yon  the  paramount  importance  of  a  com- 
mon, jjublic;  school  system,  where  our  citizens  would  learn 
mutual  respect  and  conlidence,  and  become  ac(iuainted 
with  British  institntions.  You  would  not  help  us,  when 
we  were  trying  to  solve  this  great  educational  problem, 
you  were  too  cowardly  to  face  the  opposition  of  the  clergy, 
you  sacrificed  the  interest  of  our  connnon  coinitry,  and  now 
everything  sutlers  and  we  are  helj)lessly  going  to  wreck 
and  ruin." 

New  England  is  gravitating  in  the  same  direction.  Soon 
our  foreign  population,  with  its  large  families,  will  have  out- 
numbered the  Americans,  and  it  is  elementary  logic  to  say, 
that  if  the  children  of  these  foreigners  remain  French  and 
Irish  in  their  ideas,  preferences,  racial  prejudices  and  tra- 
ditions, they  cannot  helj)  this  nation  very  mucli. 

The  time  then  has  fully  come  for  the  state  to  do  its  duty 
in  these  educational  matters.  Liberty  of  conscience  we  all 
believe  in,  and  only  wish  a  little  more  of  it  were  granted  in 
certain  quarters ;  then  our  public  schools  would  not  be 
emptied.  But  liberty  of  conscience  does  not  mean  liberty 
to  destroy  what  others  deem  essential  to  the  permanency  of 
the  nation.  Surely  this  American  nation  has  a  right  to 
exist.  If  others  who  come  here,  cannot  breathe  the  air 
without  dying,  they  had  better  select  some  other  clime 
where  they  can  live.  It  must  surely  seenx  strange  to  un 
American  public,  that  those  of  foreign  birth  should  be 
called  upon  to  revive  the  patriotic  flame  iu  the  hearts  of 
New  Englauders. 


V 


t  ! 


f 


f '  I 


IS 


Pi 


a; 


i: 


til 


»?r 


tl 


5 


!l 


|||; 


98 


Foit>'    HeriUuje. 


SECTION    III. Tin:   I'KKNCII  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  TIIESS. 

A  third  and  very  powerful  uj^ency  used  by  the  French 
Roman  Catholic  party  to  keep  this  portion  of  our  immigrant 
population  under  the  old  regime,  is  the  French  ])res8. 

Nearly  every  city  and  town  of  importance  and  in  which 
the  French  people  iiave  gathered  in  sullicient  numbers,  has 
its  French  weekly  paper.  Cities  like  Lowell,  Fall  River, 
llolyoke  and  Worcester,  have  had  as  numy  as  three 
such  ])ublications  at  once.  The  editors  of  these  publications 
are  with  few  exceptions,  personally  known  to  several  of  our 
F"'rench  Protestant  leaders. 

We  are  perfectly  well  informed  as  to  their  religious 
views,  their  personal  preferences,  their  secret  attitude  to- 
ward the  clergy.  The  information  has  come  eitlier 
from  their  own  lips,  or  from  persons  who  were  once 
associated  with  them,  but  who  having  learned  better  things, 
have  left  them  to  follow  a  more  manly,  honest  and  honor- 
able policy. 

Most  of  these  men  belong  to  that  class  of  French  Cana- 
dians whom  the  teachings  of  Rome  luive  cither  made  or 
left  indifferent  to  true,  personal  religion,  in  the  tirst  j)lace, 
and  from  that  state  of  mind  and  heart  have  easily  drifted 
into  irreligion  and  infidelity. 

In  this  respect  the  history  of  Romanism  has  repeated  it- 
self in  various  countries,  is  now  repeating  itself  in  Italy, 
South  America,  Canada  and  New  England,  and  will  go 
on  repeating  itself.  The  Romish  system  either  crushes  the 
intellect  and  conscience  and  makes  bigots  and  slaves,  un- 
able to  exercise  independent  thought,  or  it  leads  to  a  revolt 
of  the  conscience  and  intellect  against  its  grinding  absolut- 
ism. If  in  the  transition  period  the  simple  truths  of  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  can  be  presented  to  the  dissatisfied 
mind  and  heart,  an  acceptance  of  them  may  be  reasonably 


E)i(jint's  of  ]Va)'/ari-. 


99 


taly, 
11  go 
the 
uu- 
evolt 
iolut- 
t"  the 
isfied 
lably 


expected.     If  not,  this  internal  revolt  leads  iirst  to  religious 
inditlerent'c  to  he  followed  \ery  soon  by  sneering  inlidelity. 

Nearly  all  our  so-called  IJonian  Catholic  journalists  are 
Romanists  in  name  only.  They  have  k)st  all  taith  in  the 
old  system.  When  a  better  faith  might  have  saved  them 
from  spiritual  shipwreck,  it  was  not  ofl'ered  them  in  Roman 
Catholic  Quebec,  and  now  they  are  abjectly  inditlei-ent  to 
all  religion.  Self-interest  is  the  ruling  power  in  them,  and 
the  all-absorbing  question  is:  "How  shall  we  gain  influ- 
ence? How  shall  we  make  money?"  The  answer  is  soon 
found  :  By  joining  issue  with  those  who  have  power  over 
the  French  masses.  By  helping  them  to  retain  their  power 
over  them. 

It  is  well  known  tliat  the  priests  for  the  j)resent,  control 
these  masses.  There  are  to  be  sure,  signs  of  dissatisfaction 
and  the  power  of  the  hierarchy  will  go  down  sooner  or 
later.  But  for  the  time  being  he  who  would  have  influence 
with  the  French  masses  must  be  in  sympathy  outwardly 
with  the  hierarchy. 

The  conclusion  is  easily  drawn.  The  French  paper  must 
in  all  things  be  the  mouthpiece  of  the  clergy.  It  is  only 
necessary  to  glance  over  one  or  two  issues  to  become  more 
than  satisfied  that  such  is  the  case. 

The  editors  and  proprietors  are  under  the  necessity  of 
submitting  to  the  dictates  of  the  priests.  They  do  not  dare 
to  give  expression  to  an  opinion  or  conviction,  not  in  har- 
mony with  the  views  and  tastes  of  the  Romish  hierarchy. 
Tlie  expression  of  an  independent  thouglit,  the  mildest  crit- 
icism of  the  church  in  matters  political  and  social,  leave 
alone  religious  questions,  would  mean  the  speedy  death  of 
the  rash  journalist.  He  must  ever  keep  in  mind  that  his 
readers  are  the  slaves  of  the  priests.     One  word  from  him 


'i 

•IJ 
i 

■'M 

'II 

I  r 


(      1 


.,  .! 


i;    (■ 


I 

^1' 


» I 


Mi 


11 


I 


H    : 


IWO  Y'lur  ILritaije. 

wuiild  1(1'  ciiouLih  to  retluco  tlie  subscription  list  to  the  low- 
est t'\piTs>ioii,  ill  a  very  short  time. 

When  we  consider  what  an  inlhujiice  the  [)ross  exerts, 
we  can  readilv  iinderstaud  the  harm  that  is  (h)iie  umoii';  the 
French  peoph' by  papers  eondueted  on  these  principles. 

AV(!  have  more  than  once  been  astonished  at  the  boldness 
displayed.  I'lider  the  stars  and  stripes,  I'or  years,  unprin- 
('ij)le(l  men  have  be(!ii  insultinir,  deridin^s  misrepresenting 
all  those  Institutions  which  this  nation  loves  as  much  as 
life.  As  lor  the  sacred  truth.-  u\'  tlie  religion  which  the 
American  nation  pr(;tesscs,  they  are  dragged  in  tlu'  nmd 
constantly.  The  masses  arc  made  to  believe  that  Protest- 
ants lielievi'  ill  neither  Go<l  nor  devil  and  that  they  have 
no  religion  at  all. 

It  need  iKjt  be  said  that  French  Protestants  come  in  for 
their  full  share  of  misrepresentation  and  abuse.  The  peo- 
])le  are  told  that  our  religion  and  that  of  the  Americans 
are  totally  ditfei-ent.  Nothvvithstanding  the  fact  that  our 
pastoi's  have  gone  through  a  regular  course  oi'  literary  and 
theological  studies,  have  been  duly  licensed  and  ordained  to 
preach  the  (iosjiel,  they  arc  ranked  among  impostors, 
thieves  and  va'^ibonds.  It  does  not  seem  to  enter  into  the 
minds  ot  these  writers,  that  Ijywheninsulting  our  leaders, 
who  are  api)ointed  to  their  work  by  the  great  missionary 
societies  of  this  counfy,  settled  over  churches  by  councils 
comjiosed  of  the  leading  laymen  and  clergymen  of  our 
American  churches,  that  they  are  insulting  the  country  to 
which  they  have  been  driven  by  the  very  church  they  now 
seem  to  uj)hold. 

We  should  not  sav  their  mind  is  too  obtuse  to  see  this. 
They  know  it  quite  well.  But  the  masses  do  not,  and  it  is 
theirs  to  keep  them  ignorant  and  deluded.  It  may  not  be 
out  of  place  to  give  one  or  two  extracts  from  Le   Courrier 


for 
peo- 
caiis 

our 

ami 

Uo 

ers, 
the 

erri, 

uiry 

ncils 
our 

y  to 
now 

this, 
it  is 
ot  be 
irrier 


Enyiiics  (if  W'ai'fafc.  101 

de  Wovcest(i\,  I'ditcd  by  Mi-,  IlulaniriT.  Tbcy  will  illus- 
trate wliat  we  say.  In  the  issue  of  22u(l  December,  1(S8H, 
I\Ir.  H('lan<,^er  had  distinjruished  himself  by  urging  the 
P'rench  Canadians  to  lay  in  a  irood  stoek  of  wiiitrkey  for 
tlie  holidays,  recomnunding  two  or  tlii'ee  r(|U(ir  stores  kept 
by  Canadians  who  had  "  distinguishcii  themselves  in  move- 
ments that  liad  a  intble  and  Christian  aim  in  vitiw." 

Not  satislied  with  tlie  ctfoi'ts  ot  the  Christian  ladies  of 
Worcester,  wlio  as  members  of  the  Women's  Christian 
Tcmj)erance  Union,  are  Avorking  so  heroically  to  stay  the 
ravagi's  of  intemperance,  he  addi'essed  them  in  this  choice 
language  : 

"Old  bedbugs,  who  have  lieen  twenty  times  divorced,  go 
to  your  homes." 

It  maybe  added  that  not  a  priest  of  Worcester  thouglit  of 
protesting  against  such  coarse  and  abusive  language  and 
that  the  Courrier  gives  itself  as  the  staunch  upholder  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

On  a  later  occasion  the  same  ])aper  was  nuich  displeased 
because  the  Rev.  1.  J.  Lansing  expressed  his  views  on  the 
Roman  Catholic  cjuestion. 

Speaking  of  the  audience,  the  polite  editor  said  : 

"The  audience  was  large  enough,  lint  it  was  composed 
of  individuals  of  like  character  in  all  points  to  that  of  the 
lecturer,  namely,  having  an  upjter  st(jry  to  let." 

Then  after  commenting  on  the  speaker's  address  the 
enraged  editor  cries  out  : 

"Can  it  be  that  insane  asylums  are  so  full,  that  society 
shoidd  be  condemned  to  live  with  such  lunatics  !  Wheri 
will  the  people  bring  back  to  their  senses  these  tirebrands? 
.  .  .  Ah  I  if  these  scoundrels,  who  seek  to  bring  about  a 
revolution  between  Protestants  and  Catholics  in  the  United 
States  . .  .  were  not  children  of  the  great  God  which  charity 


'I 


:i 


1, 


'.  ,i 


a  %f 


!  i 


I 


1 

1 
1 

1 

(1 

1 

1 

1^ 

1 

iM' 

|[ 

{ 

1 

1 

1 

I 


Ml 


102  Your  Hcritafjc. 

bid.';)  uri  "tolerate,"  we  would  soon  have  cured  them  of  this 
pretensions,  that  (jutside  of  their  Society  there  is  nothing 
good,  honest  and  Christian.  Since  nature  has  thus  made 
them,  bt  us  close  our  ears  to  their  foolish  pretensions  and 
let  us  allow  them  to  grovel  in  tiie  mire  in  which  they  are 
destined  to  live  for  ever,  aping  those  old  carcasses  that  have 
apostatized  .uid  denied  their  Creator." 

This  is  a  fair  sample  of  French  Roman  Cathr)lic  journa- 
lism in  New  England.  Some  articles  are  so  far  beneath 
the  dignity  (.fa  respectable  publication,  that  they  could  not 
be  reproduced. 

This  then  is  the  kind  of  reading  the  French  Canadians 
are  offered,  abuse  of  American  instittuions,  misrepresenta- 
tion, falseliood.  What  can  we  expect  from  thesi>  nuiltitu- 
des,  when  public  opinion  is  guided  by  so  disreputable  and 
raislciuling  a  journalism  ? 

They  cannot  l)ut  liave  feelings  of  hatred  and  rebellion 
toward  the  land  of  their  ado])tion,  Avhich  will  break  out 
sooner  or  later.  Unless  they  are  enlightened  Ijy  the  Gospel 
and  by  a  French  press  imbued  with  evangelical  principles 
and  with  true  American  ideas,  these  multitudes  nuist  re- 
main, not  only  foreign,  but  must  develop  into  dangerous 
enemies  of  the  countrv  thev  are  taught  to  hate. 

We  think  we  have  reason  to  be  concerned  for  the  future. 
The  momentum  of  these  various  forces,  now  at  work  in 
New  England,  is  far  greater  than  is  imagined. 

The  French  hierarchy  are  in  especially  favorable  circum- 
stances to  carry  out  their  ])lans.  They  hold  all  the  wires 
and  can  pull  them  at  will.  They  are  supposed  to  be  an 
insigniticant  power ;  they  can  do  their  work  very  largely 
unnoticed  because  they  use  a  foreign  tongue. 

We  fear  this  country  will  have  in  New  England,  some  of 
the  troublesome  experiences  old   England  has  had   and  is 


E)iiji)i(jfi  of  War/arc.  103 

now  hiiviug,  in  Canada.  Nothing  hut  the  uvangolization 
uf  tlie  Fronch  Caiwidians  can  prevent  thi-ni.  A.s  this  is  now 
the  great  ini.ssionary  problem  ol"  Canada,  so  will  it  .soon   be 


lor  2^'ew  England. 


SECTION  IV. — TIIK  FRliNClI  NATIONAL  CONVKNTIONS. 

The  church  of  Konie,  as  has  already  been  stated,  has  Cor 
centurieti,  believed  in  the  principle  of  cenirali/.ation.  It 
has  been  powerful  both  as  a  religious  and  political  organi- 
zation, because  it  has  acted  on  the  princi{)le  that  strt-ngth 
lies  in  concerted  action. 

The  French  clergy  have  not  been  behind  the  rest  of  the 
hierarchy  m  this  particular  direction.  They  very  soon  saw 
that  the  million  of  French  Canadians  scattered  over  this 
country,  would  be  a  very  insignilicant  factor  in  moulding 
the  de.'?tinies  ot  this  nation,  if  there  were  no  \n>\\d  (»f  uni<jn 
between  them,  no  unity  of  aim  and  purpose. 

True  to  the  instincts  of  their  church,  the  French  priests 
bejTau  to  form  societies  and  other  or^^anizations  in  evei'v 
locality  where  the  French  were  Ibuud  insullicient  luuubers. 

These  organizations,  for  the  most  jtai't,  go  under  the  name 
of  '*  Societo  8t.  Jean  liaptiste,  "  J(jhn  the  I)a[)tist  being  the 
patron  saint  of  Canada.  None  but  French  Koman  Caiiuj- 
lics  can  belong  to  them,  and  a  chaplain,  the  pari.-^h  priest, 
is  lie  riijarur. 

A  few  mouths  ago  the  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society  of  Lo- 
well numbered  GOO  membci's  ;  IT  nion  St.  Joseph  48^  ;  the 
Corporation  St.  Andr6  200  members  and  the  Younji;  Me 


n  s 


Society  1-10  members.  In  the  same  city  there  are  other 
French  Canadian  societies  having  a  good  membership.  The 
paper  from  which  these  ligui'cs  are  quoted  adds  :"  There 
are  prob'ibly  2000  men  connected  with  the  civic  organiza- 
tions of  French  Canadians  in  the  citv." 


t^i' 


;! 


I 


!i 


v4' 


sSS 


1 


1 1" 


! 


»  H 


I  >        <V     'I 


m 


11 


r  !"  * 


lia 


li 


'i  11 


104  i'o(f/*   Heritage. 

Those  local  societies  and  all  associations  ol'  F'rencli  Ca- 
nadians, of  whatever  character  they  may  l)c,  are  united  to 
elect  delegates  to  the  state  convention,  wliich  meets  annu- 
ally. lOvery  other  year,  there  is  a  general  convention  form- 
ed of  delegates  IVoni  all  the  organizations  (jt  French  Cana- 
dians in  the  United  States.  As  a  rule,  some  distinguisiied 
priests  or  intltiential  statesmen  from  Canada  are  present 
with  a  view  of  reviving  or  stimulating  tiie  national  senti- 
ment and  ceni'NUiug  the  ties  which  bind  the  Canadians  of 
the  United  States  with  those  of  Canada. 

Lf  Guide  Fr((ii.ciiis^  published  in  1881)  puts  the  num- 
ber of  these  various  societies  at  217  and  the  membership 
at  31,i)o(). 

The  conventions  formed  out  of  these  societies,  have  not 
attracted  very  much  attention,  save  in  tlie  towns  and  cities 
in  which  they  have  from  time  to  time  taken  place.  The 
large  procession,  Avith  its  al:vg.)i  i-al  'v\rs,  its  banners,  its 
bands  of  music,  could  not  but  pr-  .uce  the  impression  that 
the  French  Canadians  are  numericallv  strong  here.  Be- 
yond  that,  little  or  nothing  is  known  of  the  purposes  and 
])liins  of  such  gatherings.  Governois  ot  states,  mayors  of 
cities  have  not  failed  to  sanction  their  })roceedings  by  attend- 
ing them  and  the  daily  press  has  lavisiied  compliments  of 
the  following  character: 

"The  French  Canadian  conventi<»n  held  jtt  Nashua  X.  II. 
has  ju'oved  a  magnificent  success,  highly  creditable  to  the 
enterprise,  management  and  public  spirit  of  tliis  enterprising 
and  progressive  community.  The  object  of  the  demonstra- 
tion is  one  which  demands  the  appreciative  recognition  of 
our  citizens  of  every  class.  It  was  no  less  important  an 
object  tlian  the  promotion  of  the  movement  i'or  natui'aliza- 
tion  which  has  been  making  such  immense  strides  ol'  iate 
years,  and  it  may  be  conlidently  hoped  that  the  delegates 


«^* 


Engines  of  Warfare.  105 

will  return  to  theii-  homes  more  than  over  convinced  of  the 
Avi.sdom  of  the  jjolicy  to  which  they  are  now  fully  com- 
m.itted". 

Statements  of  this  kind,  show  very  clearly,  that  the  pur- 
poses of  these  gatherings  are  not  at  all  understood. 

Lc  Dif'jiHcnr  of  Holyoke,  Mass.,  does  not  hesitate  to 
declare  in  uinuistakalde  terms,  what  the  aims  of  these  socie- 
ties and  conventions  are  : 

''Our  societies  have  as  tiieir  object,  the  preservation  of 
our  tongue,  of  onr  faith,  of  oui-  manners  and  customs.'* 

The  same  paper  goe.■^  on  i-idiculing  those  who  favor  assi- 
milation. It  .nays  tiiat  only  superficial  minds  I'ver  dream  of 
uniting  into  one  homciieneous  bodv,  the  various  elements 
wdiich  now  make  up  the  American  nation.  It  goes  on  say- 
ing :  ''Is  it  reasonable  to  believe,  or  even  to  suj)pose  that 
the  various  races  tiiat  are  now  represented  in  the  United 
States,  are  prepared  to  abdicate  their  past,  their  religious 
principles,  their  national  aspirations,  to  throw  tiiemselves 
into  the  abvss  of  assimilation  ?  We  esteem  the  Americans, 
we  admire  their  prodigious  activity,  but  we  cannot,  any 
more  than  the  othei*  elements  in  the  countiy,  assimilate 
with  them." 

It  is  verv  clear  that  'vhen  I'X-irovernor  Sawvcr  of  New 
Ilampshii'c  sanctioned  by  hi'^  presence  the  pi'ociH'dings  of 
the  NashiKi  convention  in  l.SS.S,  he  was  not  in  (he  least 
acquainted  with  tlie  measure^  which  \vere  to  l)i'  adopted  by 
that  body.  The  followiuu'  icttiT,  mmU  to  us  a  tew  days  af- 
ter the  ctjuvention,  show 


verv  clear) V   that    he   was    in    the 


dark. 


The  object  of  the  convention  in    Nashua. 


nateil   1) 


'}' 


the  committee  who  waited  upon  me  wiili  the  imitation  to 
be  present,  appeared  unobjectioinUtie,  and  in  \icw  of  the 
magnitude  and  aj)parent  high   characte'r  o!"  the   deinonsira- 


K  I 


Id 


1.S 


I*^ 


iMI 


ni 


! 


t     -: 


I 


I 'Ml  Yoitr  Heritage. 

lion,  I  had  no  hesitation  in  consenting  to  represent  the  State 
on  the  occasion. 

The  information  contained  in  your  letter  is  entirely  new 
to  me.  I  should  be  pained  to  learn  that  there  was  any 
hidden  pur[)ose  which  was  inimical  to  tlie  Republic  and  its 
institutions.  If  any  such  purpose  exists,  I  should  be  reluc- 
tant to  believe  that  the  gentlemen  whom  it  was  my  privil- 
ege to  meet  in  Nashua,  wore  knowing  of  it." 

The  question  which  concerns  this  country  is  :  "What  are 
these  conventions?  Do  they  demand  "the  appreciative  re- 
cognition ot  our  citizens  of  every  class?"  Are  they  purely 
and  sim))ly  "national"  gatherings,  a  sort  of  j)ic-nic  where 
hundreds  of  people  of  the  same  nationality  meet,  forgetting 
differences  of  creeds  and  of  political  parties,  to  spend  a 
pleasant  time?  Is  it  true,  as  some  papers  have  said,  that 
"the  ])roceedings  are  laudably  free  from  a  religious  bias 
and  contain  no  element  whicdi  can  possibly  give  otlense  to 
Protestant  members  or  visitors?" 

Let  us  endeavor  to  ascertain  to  what  extent  statements 
of  tliis  kind  can  be  depended  upon. 

About  two  and  a  half  years  ago  we  made  the  cha"ge 
against  these  so-calk'd  national  conventions,  that  they  had 
no  right  to  the  name  they  assumed,  because  tlu'v  did  not 
include  all  the  French  Canadians  of  the  United  States,  but 
only  those  who  called  themselves  Ixoman  Catholic.  The 
name  was  misleading  and  deceived  tlu'  American  people. 

Before  fmdinL:'  fault  with  tlu'  name  assumed,  we  asked  to 
be  admitted  as  members  of  the  Nashua  Convention  of  1888 
on  the  gi'ound  that  "-all  French  Canadian  jotu'nalists  were 
members,  (X-nf/'icio/''  IJeing  at  that  time.  \\\{\\  two  other 
French  pastors,  tliC  })ublishers  and  proprietors  of  Zrc  Scvicur 
Frni)r<)'A)iu  riran   we    had  tlie  I'iu-ht  to  be   present  as  full 


luul 
not 

,  ])Ut 

The 
e. 

il  to 

.S88 
wore 
itlier 

lull 


EiKjhits  of  War/an'.  107 

members,  it' the  invitations  issued  to  the  French  Canadian 
national  convention,  were  not  misleading. 

The  following  letter  was  received,  dated  June  18th  1888, 
signed  P2mile  II.  Tardivel,  General  Secretary. 

"I  have  the  honor  of  informing  you  that  French  Protes- 
tant Canadians  cannot  be  represented  at  our  General  Con- 
ventions, these  conventions  being  in  their  essence(I  trans- 
late literally)  Catholic. 

"Likewise  only  members  of  the  Frencli  Canadian  Catho- 
lic press,  can  take  part  in  the  deliberations,  as  delegates 
L'X-tiiJicio.'" 

In  view  of  such  a  reply,  we  had  the  right,  since  the  .']')- 
000  French  Protestant  Canadians  wei-e  excluded,  to  object 
to  the  name  ""national"  })ure  and  simple. 

AVe  went  further  than  this.  Wv  made  the  chargo  tliat 
these  conventions  are  anti-Protestant,  anti-American  and 
revolutionary  in  tlieir  tendencies.  This  we  did  in  the  pid)- 
lic  press  and  threw  out  this  challenge  :  '"'■  II'  we  lur.  e  mis- 
represented the  aims  and  purposes  of  the  Nashua  conven- 
tion, we  make  bold  to  eliallenge  its  i)tlicers  and  other  lead- 
ing men,  to  meet  the  representatives  of  French  Protestant- 
ism in  the  United  States,  in  some  i)ublic  hall,  when  the 
former  nuiy  disprove  our  statements  and  satisfactorily  an- 
swer our  questions."  The  eludlenge  has  not  yet  been 
taken  up.  It  is  wiser  to  leave  it  alone.  It  woidd  give  too 
good  an  opportunity  to  place  before  the  public  facts,  wliich 
the  French  clergy  and  their  suj)porters  <lo  not  wish  the 
American  public  to  know. 

The  French  ]*rotestants  have  no  lonirer  reason  to  com- 
plain  of  the  name  given  these  gatherings.  AVhen  ihey 
were  simply  called  ''national,"  the  pnl)lic  had  every  reason 
to  suppose  that  all  the  French  Canadians  were  welcome  to 
them.      It   was   certainly   the   oj)iiii()ii   of  a    leading    paper 


n 

^•r     ~ 

;    , 

1 

1 

"t 

1 

mmmm 


I 
ii 


■    i 


!|i^ 


<i 


108  Foin*  Jleritarje. 

of  New  England  when  it  said,  tliat  the  Nashua  convention 
"contained  no  element  that  could  possildy  give  olfense  to 
Protestant  memhcrs  or  visitors." 

As  French  Protestants,  we  had  reason  to  object  to  the 
appellation,  because  \\p  did  not  wish  to  be  held  responsible 
for  the  acts  oi'  these  conventions.  We  do  not  believe  in 
the  measures  there  discussed  and  adopted,  because  they 
are  anti-Protestant  and  anti-American,  and  opposed  to  the 
best  interests  oi"  our  luitionality.  Our  views  on  this 
question  are  well  known.  We  do  not  believe  that  wc  can 
have  on  American  soil  a  dozen  diiferent  nations,  with  their 
modes  of  government,  their  peculiar  institutions,  their 
love,  tongue,  and  especially  if  allegiance  to  the  President 
comes  second  to  allegiance  to  a  monarch  across  the  sea. 
We  believe  in  one  great  American  people,  loyal  to  Amer- 
ican institutions,  pledged  to  sustain  the  })ublic  school 
system. 

The  reason  why  the  Fi-ench  Rt)man  Catholic  clerijfv  dis- 
agree  with  us  and  call  the  French  Protestants  traitors  to 
their  nationality,  may  once  more  be  stated,  so  that  it  may 
impress  itselfupon  the  minds  of  the  protectors  of  this  nation  ; 
The  genius  of  the  politico-religious  system  known  as  Rom- 
anism and  tluit  of  American  itistitutions  are  nuitually  des- 
tructive. Seeing  that  such  are  our  views,  we  did  not  wish 
it  to  be  thought,  that  all  Canadians  shared  in  the  ideas  of 
the  so-called  French  national  conventions. 

AVo  are  glad  to  see  that  these  gatherings  are  now  called 
"  French  Boman  Catholic  conventions."  By  adding  the 
words  "  Konuui  Catholic,"  the  I'act  has  been  acknowledged, 
that  French  Protestantism  exists,  can  have  and  actually 
has  its  amuuil  gatherings,  such  as  the  picnic  held  last  Sep- 
tember, in  W^orcester,  INIass. 

We  have  said  that  these  conventions  are  anti-Protestant 


!  ii 


EtKjineso/  Warfare.  lOi) 

and  anti-Amcricaii.  They  exclude  3'j,000  Protestant 
Canadians  of  the  United  States,  i'oi-  the  simple  reason  that 
they  have  accepted  the  teactiinj^s  of  the  Crospel  as  their  rule 
ot"  faith  and  conduct.  They  ai'e  turned  away,  hecause  they 
profess  the  same  religious  views  as  the  bulU  of  the  Amer- 
ican people  ;  because  they  love,  favf)r,  encourage  and  sus- 
tain the  public  schocds  (jf  the  land  and  other  free  institu- 
tions, and  j)lace  the  Constitution  of  the  United  .States  be- 
fore the  Syllabus  of  the  Po[)e. 

It  follows  that  the  French  priests  are  the  leading  spiritfc 
in  these  conventions.  All  the  delegates  are,  willingly  av 
otherwise,  the  docile  slaves  of  the  priests.  Thci-eare  among 
the  laity,  men  of  intelligence  and  education,  who  desire  a 
better  state  of  thintrs  for  their  countrymen.  Hut  thev  are 
either  merchants,  or  physicians  or  clerks.  They  depcn<l 
upon  the  French  population  for  their  livelihood,  and  this 
population  the  priest  controls.  In  order  to  keep  cast  with 
the  people,  they  feel  compelled  to  abdicate  all  right  to  think 
and  especially  to  give  expression  to  their  convictions. 

It  mav  be  asked  whether  there  has  been  no  change  since 
18H8?  The  following  extracts  from  two  French  Roman 
Catholic  papers  of  October  1800,  show  that  the  aims  are 
the  same. 

La  Feuillc  d'Erahle^  the  oflicial  organ  of  the  St.  Jean 
Baptiste  society  of  New  York  says:  "Our  population  is 
Catholic  and  French  Canadian  without  reasoning." 

Le  National  of  Lowell  replies  to  this  :  "  No  our  popula- 
tion is  not  French  "without  reasoning."  On  the  contrary, 
it  reasons  very  well,  and  it  says  to  itself  that  it  is,  Ijefore 
everything  else,  Koman  Catholic,  and  that  in  its  national 
festivals,  it  desires  the  co-operation  of  the  clergy,  because 
no  people  can  prosper  and  become  great  that  does  not  walk 
hand  in  hand  with  the  priest." 


•I 
1 


ii: 


!i 


^:'!ll    ''^ 


'ill 


i    !  » 
( 


I 


Hf 

J  ;  1 

r, 

f 

i. 

/          i 

i 

- 

110  Fot(r  HeritfKje. 

We  may  state  tlie  great  aim  of  tliese  conventions  in  two 
sentences.  To  establish  lirmly  on  American  soil,  and  espe- 
cially ill  New  England,  the  French  race,  preserving  its 
identity,  its  tongne,  its  modes  of  thought,  and  especially  its 
religion.  Everything  is  made  to  centre  round  this  last  fea- 
ture. 

When  Le  Defmscvr  asks  whether  "  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  the  various  races  are  prepared  to  abdicate  their 
i''  '  .  ns  principles  in  order  to  assimilate  with  Americans," 
ft; II  vp  /ers  negatively,  it  says  virtually,  that  it  is  impos- 
t'ible  lor  a  Canadian  to  become  a  genuine  citizen  of  tliis 
3"ioto«tan;  ronublic. 

Whilst  do \^  i'v  that  this  theory  is  true  in  so  far  as  it 
applies  to  Protestant  Canadians  we  believe  it  to  be  quite 
true  in  the  case  of  Romanists. 

The  two  great  questions  which  arc  always  sure  to  come 
up  are  :  "What  are  the  best  means  to  adopt  for  the  esta- 
blishment of  French  Roman  Catholic  schools  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  French  tongue?" 

This  first  question,  when  sifted  down,  resolves  itself  into 
this  :  —  What  are  the  best  means  to  adopt  to  fight  American 
institutions,  to  destroy  them  and  replace  them  by  others 
controlled  by  the  pope?  What  are  the  best  means  to  adopt, 
in  order  to  prevent  the  assimilation  of  the  French  element 
into  the  body  of  mutually  sympathetic  American  citizens? 

The  second  question  is  :  "What  are  the  best  means  to 
adopt  for  the  naturalization  of  our  countrymen?"  This 
question  resolves  itself  into  this  :  How  can  we  best  succeed 
in  leading  the  French  Canadians  to  say  they  are  Ameri- 
cans, by  becoming  voters,  when  all  the  time  they  have  in 
view  not  the  building  up  of  the  American  nation,  but  the 
growth  of  a  politico-religious  system,  anti-American  to 
the  back-bone. 


JjiKjiiir.soj    ]]  i(r/'((r(.  Ill 

No  good  for  oui"  luitioiiality  can  \>v  hoped  tor.  tVoin  tlu'st; 
conventions.  They  are  controlled  by  men  who  have  sellish 
ends  in  view.  The  few  who  ini!j:ht  feel  disjiosed  to  take 
broader  views  of  things,  are  compelled  to  keej)  silent.  The 
priests  would  crush  them. 

A  layman  who  had  been  a  leading  spirit  at  the  Ilolyoke 
gathering  said  to  ns   : 

"You  can't  conceive  of  the  state  of  things  among  the 
Canadians  of  the  United  States.  The  pries tr;  are  tyrants. 
Their  aim  is  to  make  money.  Iiv  reasttn  of  ignorance  and 
superstition,  the  masses  submit.  By  reason  of  (ear  and 
because  they  wish  to  curry  favor  wiih  the  priests,  the  more 
intelligent  and  educated  among  the  )>eoj)le,  also  submit.  It 
is  a  system  of  tyraiuiy  that  will  end  in  a  bloody  revolution. 
New  England  lias  dark  days  in  store." 

"I  do  not  claim  to  Ije  a  Protestant,  continued  this  man, 
but  I  wish  you  every  manner  of  success  in  your  woik.  If 
Americans  would  only  open  their  eyes,  they  would,  for  the 
good  of  their  country,  })laee  your  work  on  a  solid  tbunda- 
tion.  I  can  say  nothing.  I  would  lose  my  position.  Both 
Romanists  and  Protestants  compel  us  to  l)e  silent.  "  These 
words  need  to  be  weighed.  It  is  perfectly  true,  that  it  is 
becoming  more  and  more  dillicult  tor  a  Boman  Catholic  to 
leave  the  Church  of  Borne.  The  business-public  seem  to 
be  afraid  to  give  em})loyment  to  men  and  women  who  have 
enough  of  courage  to  break  loose  from  the  power  of  the 
priests.  Instead  ol  finding  friends  to  receive  them  and 
lielp  them  to  take  their  rank  in  society  as  free  men  and  wo- 
men, they  are  thrown  upon  a  cold  and  unsympathetic  worUl, 
and  they  are  driven  to  the  wrong  conclusion  that  there  is 
no  more  religion  among  Protestants  than  among  Boman- 
ists.  Many  of  them  conclude  that  it  American  Protestants 
make  of  their  purse  their  god,  they  themselves  may  as  well 


i 
'1 


( 

If 


lii 


;:• 


HI* 


,.     A  i  i 


i    :i 


1 12  Your  Ilcritd'j''. 

do  tlu!  siuuf.  If  it  is  ii  LH-avo  ofR'nse  toward  l^)l^e  to 
employ  a  ooiivm't  they  say,  it  inust  be  a  fjjravcr  one  to  l)e- 
comi!  a  convert.  Let  us  remain  with  Kuint',  tliou^di  not 
believing  in  her  ;  and  since  we  cannot  j)i'os{)er  iVom  a 
temporal  standpoint  without  her  goodwill,  let  us  help  her 
and  get  her  I'avors. 

The  strength  of  Rome  is  iiK'i'easing  every  day,  because 
the    back-bone    of    Protestantism   is    getting     weaker    and 

weaker. 

AV^e  repeat  it  again,  the  Gospel  of  Christ  alone  and  Chris- 
tian education,  will  save  these  vast  multitudes  from  the 
oppression  of  l\omanism  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  lawless- 
ness of  the  religious  indill'erence  and  intidelity  into  which 
they  are  falling. 

si;(;tio\  v.  —  the  i-ui:n(1i  na  i'ilvlizatton  CLUiiS. 

The  naturalization  movement  among  the  T^^rench  Cana- 
dians, is  oi'  comparatively  recent  date. 

For  a  number  of  years  this  population  was  more  or  less 
transient.  The  French  element  was  taken  little  notice  of 
by  American  politicians.  These  artisans  and  laborers 
were  looked  upon  as  birds  of  passage,  here  to-day  and 
back  to  Canada  to-morrow,  and  it  was  considered  a  wasti?  of 
time  to  solicit  their  synii)athies  with  one  or  other  candidate 
iu  federal  or  state  electioiiS. 

The  outcry  caused  by  an  offensive  report  issued  some 
years  ago  in  Massachusetts,  says  the  Montnal  Gazette 
was  the  starting  point  of  the  new  departure.  The  dignity 
with  which  the  insidting  tone  of  that  document  was  rebuked 
by  naturalized  French  Canadians,  directed  attention  to  the 
latter  as  a  hitherto  almost  ignored  feature  in  American 
political  life. 

The  priests,  afraid  of  the  influences  under  which  the  Ca- 
nadians came  while    here,    did  all  in   their   power  to   keep 


less 

c  of 

Kjrcrs 

and 

i^.  of 

ulate 


■it* 


some 
lazette 
ignity 
bilked 
o  the 
ericaii 

le  Ca- 
keep 


E nijDii  H  (if  Wurfdi'i',  113 

them  away  trom  the  American  people.  They,  consequently, 
opposed  the  movement  towaiMl  naturalization,  the  ti^ndency 
of  which  would  necessarily  be,  to  remove  the  French  from 
their  old  connections,  and  make  ot  them  permanent  resi- 
dents of  this  countrv. 

It  became  manifest  to  the  clergv  however  that    there  was 

but    little    use    in    trying    to    prevent  the    Canadians    from 

immigrating  to  tlie    United    States.      They    also   saw    that 

they  were  I)iiying  farms  and  homes  in  manufacturing  centres 

and  settling  down  with  the    fixed    })urpose    of  remaining  in 

this  country. 

Another  fact  the  French    clergy  could  not  fail  to    notice, 

with  a  somewhat  jealous    eye.     The   Irish  were  omni-pre- 

sent   in    p(tlitical    matters.     They    elected   their    man    and 

exerted  great  intluence  over    the    politi(!s  of  the    land    and 

controlletl  evei-vthin":  in  ecclesiastical  matters. 

The  French  leaders    in    the   national    conventions,  were 

not  slow  in  seeiu";  that  a  great    mistake  had  been  ma-le  l)v 

the  priests,  in  not  taking  a  leading  part  in  the  naturalization 

movement,  instead  of  o{)posing    it.      We   are    mimerically 

strong,  but  politically,  we  exei't     little  or   no    intluence,  for 

the  very  obvious  reason.that  there  are  uut  tew  voters  among 

us.     Would   we  gain  in  inlhienee  and  power,  then   let   us 

become  voters. 

The  clergy  did  not  at  once  fall  in  with  the   idea.     They 

feared  the  results  would  be,  the  loss  of  the  French  language 

among  their  people,  and  the  assimilation  of  the  French  race. 

Of  late  there  has   been   a   change  of  policy.      AVith   few 

exceptions,  the  priests  now  favor  naturalization.      It  wcnild 

be  a  great  blunder  to  suppose  that  it  is  because   they  are 

now  more  favorable  to  the  Americanization   of  the   French 

than    they    were    some  years  ago.     It  is  rather  with  the 

view  of  retarding  that  which  Americans   desire,    that  they 

have  changed  their  tactics. 


ii« 


f 


I 


111  }  '////•     III  rilitiji  . 

A  (listiiK'tif)ii,  iiiid  a  wvy  liroad  one  s1k)u1i1  he  madf  l»o- 
twi'oii  ail  Amoricaii  v'w'v/xn  and  a  voter.  The  Innncr  he- 
conu's  a  niL'inber  nfilic  Anifric/in  republic,  l>eeau.~e  lull's 
in  sympathy  with  its  coiistitution.  apjiroves  oC  its  education- 
al system  and  of  the  Li'enei-al  spirit  which  jirevails  in  the 
nation.  Tiie  latter  may  be  out  oi's\mpatliy  with  republican 
institutions.  His  purpose  in  ol)taii)in^  voting  ])()wers  may 
be  to  use  his  influence  in  ojipo^iniz-  and  overtln'owiiiLT  the 
institutions  of  the  cf)untry  ol' his  adnpti.ui. 

We  do  not  say  that  all  Komanists  w!io  become  citizens 
of  this  country,  do  so    with  such    iiitentions.      We    do    say 

however,  that  they  cannot  be  cinisisteiit  meiul)ers  of  the 
Komish  ehurcii,  and  loyal  citizens  of  a  Protestant  republic. 
It  is  an  absolute  impossibility. 

It  is  not  necessary  t(j  repeat  here  what  we  have  said,  con- 
cerning the  aims  and  desii,nis  of  the  French  Komish  clergy 
in  New  England.  The  reader  may  refer  to  the  facts  given. 
In  view  of  these  we  may  say  that  the  naturalization  clul)S 
among  the  French  Canadians,  are  becoming  one  of  the 
strongest  engines  of  war  against  American  institurons. 
l^oliticians  do  not  trouble  themselves  very  nmch  about 
1,000,000  French  Canadians.  Their  state  of  op{)ression 
and  ignorance  does  not  i)revent  the  IJepublican  or  Demo- 
cratic candidate  from  sleej)ing.  But  the  politician  becomes 
deeply  interested  in  the  teiitii  or  twentieth  portion  of  that 
number,  so  soon    as    they    become    voters.      In    cities    like 

Lowell,  Fall  River,  Manchester,  llolyoke,  [he  French 
Canadians  can  easily  turn  the  tables. 

Tiie  majority  will  vote  as  the  priests  tell  them.  The 
politiccil  parties  wall  feel  it  n(!cessary  to  keep  on  good  terms 
with  the  clergy  in  order  to  have  the  vote.  They  will  not 
dare  say  much  on  the  burning  school  question.  They  wil 
not  sanction  bills  which  favor  the  inspection    of  parochial 


En'jlnes  of  War/are.  11/3 

schools.  Tlioy  will  not  in  ono  word  interfere  with  the 
plans  of  the  French  hierarchy,  which  have  in  view  the 
estabiislnnent  of  a  New  France  in  New  EiiLdand.  Party 
papers  will  not  pnbli.>;h  a  line  of  the  patriotic  discourses 
which  are  given  here  and  there. 

The  more  voters  there  are  among  the  French  Canadians 
the  stronger  the  Roman  Catholic  church  becomes. 

If  then  the  question  be  asked  : 

How  will  this  naturalization  movement  affect  the  French 
Canadians  and  through  them,  the  United  States?  We 
answer:  All  will  dei)end  on  the  religious  and  educatioiial 
influences  under  which  this  population  is  placed.  If  they 
remain  under  the  power  of  Komanism,  if  the  children  are 
taught  in  French  parochial  schools,  it  is  as  clear  as  day- 
light, that  the  strength  of  Rome  will  increase  in  proportion 
as  French  Canadians  .are  naturalized  and  both  this  popula- 
tion and  this  republic  will  suffer  loss. 

If  on  the  other  hand  the  French  Canadians  can  be  remo- 
ved from  Romish  influences,  if  they  can  be  evangelized, 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  country,  and  kept 
Christian  by  the  power  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  they  them- 
selves will  have  all  to  gain  by  becoming  citizens,  for  then 
they  will  be  loyal,  and  the  nation  will  also  be  the  gainer. 


'I 


*  I 


J 


>:     '     ''t 


'11 

IH 


M 


(1 


PART  III. 

THE  COxXQUliST  OF  THIS  FORCE. 


i« 


11 
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chaptp:r  I. 


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•   I 

t 
I 

I 


THE  NATURE  OF  OUIt  WARFARE. 

In  the  chapters  -vvhieh  precede,  we  have  endeavored  to 
show  the  character,  strength  and  ])robable  growtli  of  tl)e 
French  Koman  Catholic  popuUition  of  New  EngUindand  the 
United  States. 

We  have  called  attention  to  the  aims  and  purposes  of  the 
clergy  and  of  those  who  have  assumed  the  roll  of  leaders 
among  those  unprivileged  and  misguided  classes. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  convince  tlie  impartial  reader, 
that  if  the  French  hierarchv  and  tliose  who  second  the  el- 
forts  of  the  priests,  succeed  in  bringing  about  the  results 
they  are  aiming  at,  Protestant  New  England  will  soon  have 
within  itself,  a  Roman  Catholic  New  France,  as  large  as, 
if  not  larger  than  itself,  made  up  of  voters,  possessing  all 
the  privileges  and  jioui-rs  of  Protestant  republican  citizens, 
and  yet  altogether  out  of  sympathy  with  the  free  institutions 
of  this  nation,  out  of  sympathy  with  the  civilization  of  this 
nineteenth  century. 


ii 

1 

■X4.    ' 

l.-i 

[(lev, 

el- 

;ults 

IlilVO 

as, 

all 

lens, 

[ions 

this 


21h' Xaturc  of  our  War/nrv.  117 

It  would  1)0  folly  to  imagine  that  this  foroii^n  state  within 
our  state  will  be  able  to  exist,  work  out  its  educational  ideas, 
its  nu'dia'val  notions  of  frovcrnment,  its  ecclesiastical 
schemes,  without  j)Utting  itselt  in  conflict  with  the  Amer- 
ican nation.  Is  it  not  precisely  because  there  is  conflict 
between  French  Ultramontanism  and  our  American  life, 
that  till'  priests  are  so  anxious  to  prevent  as  mu(di  as  in 
their  powvr  lies,  the  contact  between  the  two  nationalities? 
Let  it  be  repeated  once  more,  for  tle.ir  is  need  of  it.  The 
Komish  church  cannot  but  be  the  uncompromisin<i^  foe  of 
all  that  truly  constitutes  the  American  repidtlic.  Free 
sctiools,  a  free  press,  a  rhurcli  that  livrs  without  state  lielf), 
because  it  has  life;  freedom  of  di.>cus,-iiin,  in  one  word, 
true,  enliLrhteiied,  Clu'istian  freedom,  nn'an  siu'e  death  to 
that  chui'ch.  She  cannot  then,  if  ,'^he  has  any  regard  for 
herself,  be  anything  else  than  the  enemy  of  the  civilization 
■which  desti'oys  her. 

We  have  also  tried  to  show  that  the  ditliculty  of  the  sit- 
uation is  intensified  by  reason  of  the.  tact  that  the  force  we 
have  to  contend  against,, ecei^■^•s  help  t'rom  allit's,  which 
instead  of  joining  is.->ue  with  it  directly  and  indirectly,  should 
stand  out  for  I'roti'stant  liberties  and  all  that  goes  to  make 
a  nation  pro.-^peroiis. 

New  England  has  reached  tliat  point  wlieri^  it  must  face 
this  foe  of  religious  truth  and  freedom,  of'  true  republicaiii.-in, 
of  intellectual  develojnneiit  ol'  naiional  hapi)iue.>-s  and 
l)rosperity. 

It  were  weakness  ami  tolly  to  cry  ]ieaee,  where  there  is 
no  peace  possible.  Fire  and  watt'r  have  never  lived  at 
peace.  Powder  and  fire  cannot  cxi.^t  together,  'rruth  and 
error  are  niutuallv  destructive.  Freedom  and  slaverv  will 
never  embrace  one  another. 

As  much  can  be  said  of  Romanism  and  what  I  mav  call, 


h 


f    '    ! 


f 


i  :  ! 

hi 


fi 


I'l 


't ;  t 


I 


'>     ! 


» 

'  ( 


■I 
I 


•I 


(  i 


r    :' 


IIH  Four  Ileritarje. 

Christian  republicanism,  be  it  American,  French,  Italian  or 

English,  it  matters  little.     We  speak  now  of  certain  great 

principles. 

The  point  we  wish  to  make  and  impress  upon  those  who 

may  read  this  book  is,  that  there   is  conflict  between  the 

Cliristian  civilization  of  this  country  and  Romanism.     It  is 

a  mistake  to  imairine  that  the  latter  is  gravitating  toward 

the  former.     We  will  believe  this,  when  wc  sec  the  pope 

abandoning  his  claim  to  tem])oral  power  over  all  the  nations 

of  the  earth,  Avhen  we  see  him  abandoning    his  pretension 

to  infallibility. 

We  say  a  conflict  is  upon  us  and  we   deem  it  a  duty  to 

protect  ourselves   against  the   attacks  of  Ultramontanism. 

Not  only  this  however,  but  we  believe  that  God  calls  us  to 

go  to  the  rescue  of  those  thousands   who  for  generations 

have  groaned  and  suffered  under  the  weight   of  the  chains 

in  which  this  talse  system  has  held  these  multitudes  so  long. 

We  have  already  stated  the  reasons  which  lead  us  to  enter 
into  conflict  with  P^rench  Ultramontanism.  We  have  seen 
the  sufferings  of  our  people,  we  have  heard  their  cry 
of  distress,  wc  have  looked  upon  their  state  of  backward- 
ness of  poverty  and  of  general  ignorance,  and  our  heart 
has  been  moved.     It  has  been  made  sorry. 

We  have  for  our  people,  the  same  feelings  as  the  friends 
of  emancipation  had  for  the  Negro  race.  The  bondage  of 
the  South  was  bad  enough,  but  the  moral  and  intellectual 
slavery  of  Romanism  is  still  worse,  as  is  proved  every- 
where by  its  sad  results. 

We  believe  God  calls  on    those    of  us    who    have   the 

Gospc!,  to  go  forth  in  his  strength,  with  his  holy  arm,  to 
the  comiuest  of  this  mighty  army,  now  invading  your  heri- 
tage, New  England.  And  as  God's  people  wiped  out  the 
curse  of  slaveiy  from  this  land  of  freedom,  so  should 
they  do  with  Romanism. 


V:    > 


A 


The  Nature  of  our  Warfare. 


119 


The  warfare  is  not  a  carnal  one.  We  plead  for  no  direct 
antagonism,  for  no  bitter  opposition  to  the  Church  of 
Rome.  Above  all  we  do  not  ask  lor  restrictions  on  the 
liberties  of  Roman  Catholics. 

But  we  do  ask  that  the  institutions  of  this  country 
remain  unimpaired.  That  the  children  who  are  to  be 
our  free  citizens  to-morrow,  learn  iv,  become  enlitj^htened 
and  loyal.  We  do  ask  that  Rome  be  not  allowed  special 
privileges,  even  though  that  may  be  deemed  necessary  to 
her  i^wn  maintenance  and  existence  in  a  free  republic. 

What  we  do  ask  above  all  tilings  is,  that  the  million  of 
French  Canadians  of  this  country  be  looked  upon  as  one  of 
the  most  promising  missionary  fields  ever  opened  by  God, 
for  moral  and  intellectual  culture,  to  the  American  Christian 
church.  What  we  do  ask  is,  tiuit  we  use  common  sense 
and  discretion,  and  be  ready  to  admit,  that  if  it  is  good  and 
profitable  ior  us  to  give  money  to  the  American  Uoard  to 
send  the  Gosi)el  to  the  Roman  Catholics  of  S})ain  and 
Mexico.,  to  those  who  once  were  under  the  power  of  that 
church  in  France,  it  must  be  proper,  wise  and  patriotic  to 
preach  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Gos{>el  to  the  multitudes  at 
our  doors,  who  are  under  the  same  system  of  darkness  as 
the  Spaniards,  Mexicans  and  Frenclj  of  Kuro[)c.  It  is 
right  for  Americans  to  seek  the  conversion  of  distant  mul- 
titudes, but  it  is  not  right  to  neglect  those  wiio  are  just  as 
needy,  and  who  sutler  at  our  very  door. 

Let  us  state  again,  that  the  warfare  to  which  we  call  the 
men  and  women  of  this  land,  is  a  moral  and  spiritual  one. 
We  do  not  war,  nor  d(j  we  ask  anybody  lo  war  after  the 
flesh.  "  For  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  are  not  carnal, 
hut  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong- 
ii<dds  ;  casting  down  imaginations,  and  every  high  thing 
that    exalteth  itself  against  the   knowledge   of  God,    and 


III: 


m 


^m 


ii 


3i 

•1) 

i. 

fv,; 


.1'    i  : 


;;  'I 


120  You r  He r itage. 

bringing  into  captivity  every  thought  to  the  obedience  of 
Christ." 

N(j  one  can  object  to  such  a  warfare.  II'  Komanism  is 
the  truth,  if  its  teachings  are  based  on  God's  word,  it  has 
nothing  to  fear  from  those  wlio  desire  to  go  to  the  French 
Canadians,  God's  Word  in  liand,  and  in  tlie  Spirit  of 
Christ,  to  speak  to  llieni  the  simple  truths  of  the  Gospel. 
Jf  Ivomanism  is  not  (Mjnformed  in  its  religious,  political  and 
social  principk^s  to  the  Bible,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  all 
Christians  to  convict  that  system  of  error,  and  to  give  to  its 
adepts  the  only  truth  that  can  save  them  and  make  them 
prosperous  and  happy.  To  take  objection  to  this  position, 
were  to  ojipose  all  missionary  enterprises. 

We  deem  this  warfare  with  the  i)owers  of  French 
Ultramontanism  to  be  necessary,  justiliable  anil  God- 
imposed. 

(1)     IT  IS  A  XECKSSAKY  WAIIFAKE. 

We  wish  to  give  tlie  (rosjxd  to  tlic  French  Canadians  of 
New  England  for  the  very  simple  reason  tiiat  they  have  it 
not.  To  us  this  statement  is  trite.  AVe  have  been  com- 
pelled to  m.'ike  ourselves  familiar  with  the  system,  both 
from  its  books  and  from  personal  contact  with  hundreds 
who  profess  its  dogmas. 

The  church  of  Rome  may  claim  to  teach  the  Gospel,  to 
present  Chi'ist  to  men.  It  is  none  the  less  true,  that 
Christ's  teachings  have  been  so  buried  under  the  rubbish  of 
human  inventions,  that  the  plan  of  Christ's  salvation  is 
completely  subvei-trd. 

The  Uomanism  in  uliicji  the  vast  majority  of  the  Freiudi 
Canadians  believe,   is   nothing   short  of  baptized  legalism. 
It  brings  back   the   soul  to  those   "  beggaidy  elements"   of 
which  Paul  speaks  in  his  epistles  to  the  (Jalatians. 

Why  did  I'aul  pray  so  earnestly  for  Israel  ?  It  was  that 


T'lif  Nature  iif  (1)1  r   Wdrfarr.  121 

they  might  lie  saved.  Thfv  had  a  zeal  ot"  Goil  hut  not 
accordinjj  to  kno\vledL'"e.  IJeiiiur  iirnoraut  of  (iod's  riixliteous- 
ness  thev  went  ahotit  to  estahlisli  their  own  riijhteousness 
and  did  not  suhiuit  ihcniselves  U)  the  riglitcousness  of  God. 
Tiiey  knew  oidy  the  righteousness  of  tlie  hiw  which  teaches 
that  the  man  who  doeth  shall  live  by  what  he  doeth. 

Practicallv,  this  is  Komanisni.  AVc  know  verv  well 
that  the  theologians  of  that  church  will  di'iiy  that  such  is 
their  system  of  theology.  Wwi  we  an;  dealing  with  men, 
with  the  lives  and  actions  of  men. 

For  the  vast  majority  of  our  French  Canadian  Roman 
Catholics,  religion  has  come  down  t(j  a  dead  extcrnalism. 
Ifsuificeth  to  attend  to  a  certain  round  of  meaningless 
forms,  to  be  religious.  There  nuiy  ])e  no  lite,  no  soul  in 
the  performance  of  these  religious  ceremonies.  As  long  as 
they  are  performed,  all  is  well,  and  the  church  is  apparent- 
ly satisfied.  Sj)eak  with  the  Romanist,  ask  him  whether  it 
is  well  witli  his  soul.  Tn  nintv-nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred 
you  will  be  told,  that  having  paid  so  much  to  the  churcdi, 
having  fasted  so  manv  davs,  having  gone  to  church  so 
many  times  and  taken  the  communion  and  received  all  the 
sacraments  of  the  church,  tlie  hope  is  that  God  is  pr(jpitiated, 
and  that  after  some  years  of  suffering  in  purgatory,  heaven 
will  be  reached. 

Is  this  the  Gospel,  is  tins  Paul's  doctrine  of  justification 
by  faith  without  the  deeds  of  the  law?  Is  it  true  that  the 
sinner  can,  by  any  deed  of  his,  satisfy  the  law  of  God,  and 
lind  peace?  The  Gos[)el  emphatically  says,  no.  When 
the  Galatians  are  drawn  Ijack  to  their  old  legalism  by  false 
teachers,  who,  by  their  teaching  that  righteousness  comes 
by  the  law,  frustrate  the  grace  of  (iod,  the  apostle  cries 
out  to  these  deceived  men:  "'O  foolish  Galatians,  who 
hath  bewitched  you,   that  ye   should  not   obey  the  truth? 


«{ 


'f  — • 


1 


t 


i. 


■I 


122  Your  H(:rit(((j(. 

Are  ye  so  foolish?  liaviii!^  heguii  in  tlio  S})irit,    arc   ye    now 
iiiade  perfect  l)y  the  llesh  ?  " 

It  was  necessary  tliat  tliese  Oalatiaiis  should  be  reminded, 
that  "  tlie  just  shall  live  by  faith.  Tluit  God  so  loved  the 
woi'id  that  he  irave  his  (july  beijotten  son.  That  bv  Grrace 
ye  ai'c  saved  through  faith,  not  by  works  of  righteousness 
which  ye  have  done,  but  by  the  renewal  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  " 

Nine-tenths  of  the  French  Canadians  of  the  New  Knirland 
states,  arc  as  ignorant  of  these  elementary  Gospel  truths,  as 
the  heathen  of  tin  South  sea  islands,  because  the  Bible  is 
kept  away  (Vom  tlu'.m. 

Should  it  bi'  still  objected  by  some,  that  the  Protestant 
American  church  has  no  mission  to  this  great  and  ever 
increasing  population,  on  the  gi'ound  that  they  have  enough 
of  Gospel  to  save  them,  then  we  v.'ould  say  :  we  must  be 
all  wrong  in  our  views  of  truth  social,  political  and  religious  ; 
the  great  refoiMuation  was  what  the  llomish  church  tries  to 
make  it  to  have  been,  a  deformation.  Gin*  fathers  in  the 
faith  were  all  astray,  they  fought,  bled  and  died  for  naught. 

Can  that  be?  What,  we  ask  a  church  which  substitutes 
for  Paul's  great  doctrine  of  Justilication  by  Faith  that  of 
Justification  by  Works  ;  which  virtually  puts  the  Virgin 
JNIary  above  the  Son  of  God  ;  which  replaces  the  essential 
doctrines  of  Regeneration  and  Conversion  by  the  mechanic- 
al doctrine  of  the  Sacraments  ;  which  so  destroys  the  nature 
of  the  Lord's  supper  as  to  lead  men  to  bow  down  before  a 
piece  of  paste  and  actually  worship  it  because  they  believe 
it  to  be  very  God  ;  which  in  the  decrees  of  the  Coimcil  of 
Trent,  still  in  force,  forbiiN  the  reading  of  the  Word  of 
God  by  the  people ;  a  church  which  teaches  such  and 
kindred  errors  is  to  be  ranked  among  the  Christian  denomi- 
nations and  is  to  be  thought  good  enough  for  the  French  of 


tutes 
at  of 

ential 
ituiic- 
ature 
ore  a 
)eUcve 
cil  of 
)r(l  of 
and 
nomi- 
ne h  of 


li 


'The  Xaturi' of  our  War/are.  123 

New  Enj^land  I  No.  Its  teachings  are  soul-destroying, 
its  duetrines  pcjlitieal  and  religious  are  the  banc  of  apciople, 
and  should  be  eonibatted  by  every  child  of  God.  'Vlu'y 
have  produced  ignorance,  ])ovi'rty,  degradation,  infidelity, 
and  immortality  everywhere  they  have  prevailed.  They 
are  doing  the  same  among  the  '1:">{),00(J  French  Canadians 
of  New  England  and  New  York.  Unless  the  Christian 
churches  are  foresworn  and  their  members  traitors  to  their 
God  and  Savior  they  are  in  iluty  bound  to  go  to  these 
slaves  of  error,  teach  them  what  the  lilterty  of  Christ  is, 
and  they  will  accept  it  witii  tears  of  gratitude,  in  the  same 
Avay  as  some  40,00')  already  have  done  in  America. 

(2)     IT  IS  A  JUSTIlTAI'.l.i:  AVARI  ARE. 

Not  only  is  it  necessary  for  us  to  go  with  the  Gospel 
message  to  the  French  Roman  Catholics,  but  we  are  per- 
fectly justifuible  in  so  doing.  We  must  not  allow  ourselves 
to  be  blinded  ])y  our  notions  of  liberty.  In  our  desire  to 
give  the  French  Komanists  ol  this  land,  not  (July  toleration 
but  full  liberty,  we  sliould  not  overlocjk  our  obligation,  to 
make  known  to  them  a  better  way  than  that  in  which  they 
have  walked  for  some  three  centuries.  We  owe  it  to  them 
and  let  us  not  forget  that  we  owe  it  to  this  comitry.  If 
Protestant  England  had  only  understood  this  sooner,  the 
Province!  of  (Quebec  would  not  be  so  backward  as  it  now  is, 
and  the  social  antipathies  would  not  run  so  high  as  they 
now   do. 

The  facts  of  history  should  warn  ami  instruct  us.  "We 
cannot  very  well  close  our  eyes  to  them. 

The  French  Protestant  is  olten  asked  by  a  class  of  men 
who  consider  it  a  virtue  to  be  lenient  toward  all  sv^tems, 
why  he  puts  himself  in  conflict  with  Pome,  why  he  does 
not  display  more  tolerance,  I>readth  aiul  charity? 

AV^e  answer  by  putting  the  (juestion  :  Have  we  not  ample 


I. 


i.'l 


ifl 


li^i 


I!  } 


124 


Your  Heritage. 


reasons  to  put  ourselves  in  conflict  with  that  mediaeval  sys- 
tt'in  of  religion  and  <^overnnient,  which  has  stunted  the 
growth  of  a  colony  founded  uiider  circumstances  so  favo- 
rahlc  to  its  rapid  dcvelopnu'iit  and  prosperity? 

Let  history  speak.  In  wliose  hands  were  the  destinies 
of  New  France  sliajjcn  ?  Who  has  had  for  the  last  three 
centuries,  the  moulding  and  fasliioning  of  tiie  French  Cana- 
dian nation?  What  was  the  character  of  the  first  colonists? 
AVhat  were  the  advantages  of  the  j)rouu)ters  of  the  enter- 
prise ? 

It  is  well  known  tliat  the  church  of  Rome  has  had  the 
entire  control  in  matters  educational  and  religious.  AVe 
may  go  farther  and  add  that  she  also  controled,  in  a  very 
large  measure,  tlie  connnerce  and  politics  of  the  new  colony. 
It  has  alrejidy  been  stated  that  many  of  the  first  colonists 
were  men  of  rank  and  learning,  that  the  church  had  at  its 
disj)Osai,  boundless  territories  of  fei'tile  soil,  large  sums  of 
money,  the  protection  and  goodwill  of  the  French  court. 
She  had  a  clear  lield  before  the  new  colony  passed  into  the 
hands  of  England,  she  has  had  tlie  fullest  toleration  since. 
Should  she  not  have  made  of  New  France  the  greatest 
country  on  the  American  continent?  Has  she  done  it? 
The  answer  has  been  given. 

A  cursory  glance  at  the  history  of  New  France  and  at 
that  of  New  England,  Avill  more  ihan  sullice  to  convince 
any  impartial  and  enlightened  reader,  that  the  French 
Canadiari  who  knows  anything  concerning  the  history  of 
his  country  from  its  foundation  up  to  the  present  day,  and 
who  is  in  the  least  acqiuiinted  with  the  history  of  the 
Puritan  colony  next-door  to  it,  cannot  but  be  justified, 
when  he  i)uts  forth  wise.  Christian  and  well-directed  efforts 
to  overthrow  Romanism,   and  replace  it  by  iliose  ])rinciples 


)ry  of 
,  and 
lot"  the 
stifled, 
1  efforts 
^iciples 


Tlic  Nature  of  our  Warfare.  125 

of  Gospel  truth  ^v]lic•ll  have  made  New  EngUind  great 
among  the  nations  of  the  world. 

A  vohimc  could  be  written,  and  it  would  be  a  most  in- 
teresting one,  on  the  formative  forces  and  inlluences  in 
New  France  and  New  England. 

In  the  English  colony,  it  is  the  Puritan  Spirit  which 
prevailed.  (Jod  and  bis  tnuh  fu'st.  No  priest,  no  king 
save  Christ.  Education,  commercial  enterprise,  agricul- 
tural j)ursuits,  all  that  could  make  man  jjrosperoiis,  inde[)en- 
dent  and  free  was  sure  to  accompany  such  i)ritu'iples.  The 
Pilgrims  and  Puritans  left  their  homes,  because  tliey  cf)idd 
not    worship    (Jod    according    to    ihe     dictates     of    their 

conscience. 

In  tlie   French  colony,    a  very  different  spirit   prevailed. 

It  was  the  monarchical,  the  ecclesiastical,  sacerdotal  idea. 
The  priest  was  the  leading  personage.  Tlie  individual  num 
was  nothing,  the  hierarchy  was  the  embodiment  of  every- 
thing; religion,  education,  commerce  and  politics. 

There  was,  at  this  period, in  Europe  a  large  and  properous 
class  of  men,  who  like  the  Puritans,  placed  God  and  his 
Word  above  ecclesiasticeim.  Ileni'i  jNlartin,  the  celebrated 
French  historian  says  that  the  Protestants  were  far  superior 
to  the  Catiiolics,  and  when  Kome  so  cruelly  persecuted  the 
former  and  com{)elled  so  many  to  leave  the  country  they 
loved,  it  was  found  that  the  best  and  most  prosperous  citi- 
zens had  gone  to  other  lands,  leaving  behind  them  great 
gaps,  which  could  not  be  lilled. 

These  Huguenots  in  (jucst  of  freedom,  began  to  emigrate 
to  New  France,  and  it  w^as  not  long  before  their  influence 
was  felt  in  commercial  and  agricultural  enterprises.  But 
the  Romish  hierarchy,  fearing  the  influence  of  these  en- 
lightened Protestant  colom'sts,  brought  the  whole  power 
ot    the    ecclesiastical    machine  to   bear    upon    the    French 


li 


f 


fl' 


';;,; 


ii 


liii: 


•! 


m 


UiJ 


t,,\ 


\       •  ■ 


12G  Your  Heritage. 

court,  to  prevent  the  colonization  of  New  France  by  Pro- 
testant Christians. 

Garneaii,  the  French  Canadian  historian,  was  brave 
enough  to  say,  tliat  if  for  peace'  sake,  it  was  absohitcly  ne- 
cessary to  have  but  one  religion  in  Canada,  it  would  iiave 
been  better  to  have  given  up  this  colony  to  the  Huguenots, 
who  for  conscience'  sake,  felt  obliged  to  leave  their  native 
land,  as  the  Puritans  did.  God  alone  knows,  what  the 
results  of  such  a  })olicy  would  have  been  for  France  and  for 
the  world  ! 

The  great  CoLjny,  that  far-seeing  statesman,  that  noble 
martyr,  had  formed  the  great  plan  of  colonization,  which  if 
carried  out,  would  have  given  a  refuge  to  the  persecuted 
Huguenots  and  have  created  on  American  soil  a  great 
French  Protestant  republic,  w^orking  side  by  side  and 
harmoniously  Avith  the  colony  which  has  become  the  great 
Protestant  republic  of  the  United  States. 

But  in  the  inscrutable  decrees  of  God  it  was  ordered 
otherwise.  Cardinal  Richelieu,  because  he  had  more  at 
heart  the  glory  of  the  Romish  church  than  the  prosperity 
and  glory  of  his  nation,  would  not  sanction  so  patriotic  a 
policy. 

Under  M.  de  Mons,  a  mixed  Protestant  and  Roman 
Catholic  colony  was  established  at  I'Acadie  and  took  the 
name  of  Port  Royal. 

Under  the  skillful  management  of  the  Huguenot  leader, 
the  forest  was  soon  converted  into  farms,  out  of  the  trees 
houses  were  constructed,  a  grist-mill  was  built,  and  thrift 
and  general  prosperity  appeared  everywhere.  Very  soon 
would  the  skill  and  enterprise  of  these  Huguenots  have 
made  of  this  colony  a  centre  of  influence  and  power. 

But  Jesuit  intrigue  upset  everything.  The  Romish 
church  had  ihe  upper  hand.     Later  on  Port  Royal  was 


[cr, 
'ces 
irift 
oon 
lave 


21ic  Ndturr  of  i>itr  Warfare.  127 

attacked,  and  it  was  diiriiii,'  these  troubles  that  M.  tie 
Latuur  sou;j;ht  and  obtained  the  help  of  ^Iv.  Winthrop 
governor  of  iMassaoluisetts,  who  with  eighty  Americans  and 
one  hundred  and  forty  Huguenots  from  Ni'W  Kngland, 
succeeded  in  re[)elling  Charnisey  the  besieger  of  Fort  St. 
Jean. 

A  treaty  was  afterwards  signed  whereby  governor 
"Winthrop  was  prevented  from  helping  tiie  Huguenots  in 
days  to  come,  and  the  latter  were  conquered. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  follow  out  this  interesting  his- 
tory. It  will  sutlice  to  say  that  about  the  time  of  the 
revocation  of  the  Edict  (d  Nantes  in  l(j<sr»,  the  French 
court  stop[)ed  altogether  the  emigration  of  the  Huguenots 
to  Canada.  Those  wh(j  still  remained  were  persecuted  so 
bitterly  that  they  sought  refuge  in  New  England,  among 
those  Puritans  who  were  in  a  position  to  understand  them 
and  offer  them  sympathy. 

We  have  lingered  over  this  page  of  histf)ry  to  make 
clear  thisone  fact  namely,  that  the  Church  of  Rome  would 
notallow,  Protestants  to  have  the  least  share  in  the  lavin;; 
of  the  foundations  of  tht^  French  colony,  nor  in  its  develop- 
ment. She  nmst  therefore  be  held  resi)onsible  tor  the  state 
of  backwardness  in  which  the  French  portion  of  the  c<jun- 
try  has  remained.  Since  New  England,  foun<lod  on  Pro- 
testant principles  has  grown,  since  she  has  become  one  of 
the  leading  nations  of  the  world,  Avhilst  New  France,  con- 
troled  by  Romish  influences  has  remained  practically  at  a 
Standstill,  we  French  Protestants,  who  cannot  but  weep 
over  the  sad  pages  of  our  country's  history,  alhrm  that  Ave 
are  more  than  justified  when  we  enter  into  conflict  with  a 
system  of  religion,  politics,  and  education,  which  has  caus- 
ed and  is  now  causing  such  miseries  and  sorrows  among 
our  people.     It  is  our  right  and  duty  to  ask  that  it  be  over- 


I 


11' 


r  i. 


lii 


il  ! 


Il'8  Yuur  Ihi'itdiji  . 

thrown,  by  the  only  jjowit  that  can  copf  'vitli  it,  the  Gos- 
jjel  of  otir  Lord  anti  Savior  Jesus  Chrif^t. 

IJ — IT    IS  A  (i()I>-IMr<)Si;i)  WAUFAUE. 

It  seems  siiperfhious  to  say  tliat  thi?  contlict  \\c  onpraf^c 
in  is  Go<l-ini|)os('(l.  The  Christian  portion  of  tin's  nation 
cainiot  reinani  trne  to  CJod  and  to  the  connnission  of  Jesus 
Christ,  without  goin;^'  to  this  people  with  the  Gospel  of  lib- 
erty. We  have  tried  to  show  that  they  arc  kept  in  ignor- 
iinceofthe  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ.  We  havt'  briefly 
pointed  out  some  of  the  results  of  the  system  of  religion 
and  education  which  has  moulded  the  French  Caiuulian 
nation.  If  we  are  willing  to  keep  these  facts  before  us, 
and  judge  Romanism  by  them  and  by  nudtitudes  of  similar 
ones,  we  will  n(/t  fail  to  see  and  admit  that  God  has  sent 
these  thousands  of  French  Canadian  into  this  land,  that 
they  might  receive  at  our  hands  the  (iospel  of  Christ. 

There  has  been  too  much  indiiference  on  the  part  of  the 
Church  in  this  direction.  Scores  of  ministers  do  not  hes- 
itate to  ailirm,  that  we  as  Protestant  Christians,  have  no 
mission  tt)  IJonumists.  Those  who  reason  thus  either  have 
faileil  to  uiake  themselves  acquainted  with  the  teachings  of 
Honianism,  or  else  they  must  take  the  ground  that  there  is 
iio  essential  dilference  bi'tween  truth  and  error. 

AV^e  take  a  totally  ditferent  position.  AVe  believe  that 
God's  Word  is  the  truth  and  that  it  is  in  this  trntl  '  >t 
the  strength  of  nations  resides.  This  conv!  'ti'  we  base 
first,   on    the  AVord    of   God    itself,    ani  ,   on  the  his- 

tory of  individuals  and  nations.  Trutii  I  keth  ;t  nation, 
error  drags  it  down.  AVe  instance  again  IS'ew  F 'ance  and 
New  F^ngland.  AVe  have  the  truth  Avhich  is  able  to  save 
and  to  make  us  prosperous.  The  bulk  of  the  F>ench  Can- 
adians wdio  come  to  us  are  ignorant  of  this  truth  and  they 
suifer  by  reason  of  their  ignorance.     AVe   claim  that  God 


i  ,:.| 


no 
lavc 
;s  of 
•c  is 

that 
It 

1 ;.. 

liuii, 

and 

save 

Cau- 

tliey 

God 


The  Xdhd'v  of  our  W'ttr/art.  \'2'J 

will  iiold  us  rospoiisihlc!  for  the  loss  of  tlic.^o  sonls  if  wr  put 
forth  11(1  tffort  to  save  them. 

l>iit  there  is  more  than  this  missionary  motive  '  impel 
us  to  action.  The  safety  of  this  nation  demands  me  con- 
version to  C'in-ist  of  these  increasing  nniltitudes.  New  Kn-j^laiid 
must  hecome  in  the  near  future  either  a  Komi.-h  or  a  <,'t«l- 
Icss  democracy,  uidess  we  make  it  Christian.  To  speak  of 
a  Ivoman  Catholic  democracy  is  to  speak  nonsense.  How 
can  a  church  that  holds  to  the  doctrine  of  an  infallihle  pope 
believe  in  a  govermnent  by  the  people  and  for  the  people? 

lint  we  may  speak  with  anxiety  of  a  godless  democracy. 
We  may  look  forward  with  some  amount  of  ti'emhling  to 
the  enactment  of  scenes  similar  to  those  oi'  revolutionary 
days  in  France.  Ivomish  absolutism  in  that  couiitiy  was 
followed  by  blind  and  unthinking  atheism.  So  will  it  be 
here,  unless  we  give  those  masses,  which  arc  slipping  out 
of  Komc's  hand,  the  oidy  ])ower  which  could  have  saved 
France,  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God. 

Will  Ave  do  it?  It  will  be  surpassingly  strange  if  we 
fail  to  do  it.  Would  it  be  true  that  we  could  discern  the 
needs  of  the  French  republic,  that  we  could  see  that  noth- 
ing but  the  simple  Gospel  can  fill  the  great  religious  want 
which  Romanism  could  not  meet,  and  yet  close  our  eyes  to 
the  fact  that  this  American  republic  is  face  to  face  with  pre- 
cisely the  same  problem?  It  cannot  be.  When  the  na- 
tion stops  to  think,  so  soon  as  we  have  succeeded  in  arrest- 
ing the  attention  of  the  thinking  public  on  this  most  vital 
problem,  energetic  measures  will  be  taken  for  its  speedy 
solution. 


|. 


9{-      rj  |l 


i 


ii 


: 


.:< 


'    i 


.     1 


•'1 


CHAPTER  II. 


OUR  METHODS  OF  WARFARE. 

That  a  great  ami  diHicult  work  lies  before  us,  has  been 
shown.  In  the  strength  which  Christ  supplies,  Ave  go  forth 
to  the  conquest  of  a  strong  and  thoroughly  organized  force. 
Our  su(;cess  will  necessarily  depend  on  our  methods  of 
warfare. 

None  l)ut  those  who  have  liiul  some  experience  in  the 
kind  of  missionary  work  we  are  now  discussing,  can  fully 
understand  its  inherent  dllUculties. 

The  missionaries  of  the  American  Board  in  Spain  and 
other  papal  lands,  will  indorse  us  when  we  say,  that  the 
teachings  of  Koinanism  are  hurtful  to  the  intelligence  and 
especially  to  the  conscience.  This  fact  cannot  very  Avell  be 
overlooked,  in  the  arrangement  of  our  ujethods  of  work. 
"We  must  be  convinced  that  radical  changes  are  needed, 
changes  which  atfect  the  educationtii,  political,  social  and 
religious  ideas  of  a  people,  liefore  any  good  work  can  be 
done,  much  nuist  be  undone..     The  jii'ound  must 


im 


I 


)are( 


AVe  must  not  make  the  mistake  of  thinkinT  that    because 


and 
It   the 

iind 
lell  be 
ivork. 
leded, 
|l  and 

n   be 
prc- 

:ausc 


Our  Methods  of  War/are.  131 

the  people  we  are  called  to  evans^elize  are  largely  in  New 
England,  no  very  special  elFort  is  requii-ud  to  make  of  them 
enlightened,  Christian  citizens.  The  very  fact  that  they 
are  surrounded  by  Protestant  influences,  puts  them  on  the 
defensive  and  makes  it  necessary  for  us  to  use  special 
methods  of  work  in  order  to  reach  them. 

They  are  suspicious  of  everything  that  is  American  or 
English.  They  have  been  told  so  often  that  their  tongue, 
nationality  and  religion  go  together,  that  they  do  not  take 
kindly  to  the  agencies  now  at  work  in  this  country  and  by 
V,  iiich  the  people  of  this  repul)lic  are  prepared  for  true  and 
enlightened  citizenship.  They  are  afraid  of  the  public 
schools,  they  are  afraid  of  the  English  language  and  of  the 
American  press.  80  far  as  Enirlish  speaking  churches  are 
concerned,  it  were  a  mortal  sin  to  pass  their  threshold. 

It  Avould  not  be  accurate  to  say  that  all  the  Erench 
Canadians  escape  the  influence  of  these  enlightening  agen- 
cies. Some  have  been  reacluMl  by  them  and  as  time  goes 
on  the  number  will  increase.  Yet  the  truth  remains  that 
the  masses  are  untouched  ;  they  are  under  the  power  of 
other  influences  spoken  of  in  previous  chapters  and  it  is  by 
these  that  tliey  are  being  formed. 

What  then  must  be  done  to  take  possession  of  this  field? 

MVc  must  first  make  oiu'seKes  acquainted  witli  the  field, 
with  the  character  of  the  peopK-,  with  their  state  of  mind, 
their  peculiarities,  tlu'ir  modes  of  tliought.  ^\'e  nuist  be 
familiar  with  the  system  of  reliGfion  undi'r  which  thcv 
have  been,  know  its  strong  nud  wi-iik  jioiiUs,  that  we  nuiy 
not  blunder  in  our  maniu'r  of  apj)roach  to  the   Homanist. 

A  careful  study  will  ^ery  soon  revial  to  us  the  sad  truth 
that  Komanism  after  {11,  gives  but  vi'i-y  little  genuine  re- 
ligious a!id  moral  culture  to  the  mind  and  soul.  It  will  be 
found  the  work  thatthe  Clnu'ch  of  Christ  is  called  up(m  to  do, 


,      ! 


M 


"I 


132  Your   Iltritarjc. 

miL-it  begin  at  the  very  foimdjitioii.  To  ignore  this  were 
to  build  upon  the  sand  and  later  on  have  the  sorrow  of  see- 
ing the  edilice  crumble  to  the  ground. 

It  is  our  conviction  that  four  distinct  kinds  of  work  are 
re(|uired  for.  the  evangelization  of  these  multitudes.  1. 
Special  house-to-house  missionary  work.  2.  Church  work. 
3.   Publication  work.     4.   Special  educational  work. 

MISSIONARY    WORK. 

It  is  a  great  mistake  to  iniagino  that  all  we  have  to  do  to 
reach  unconverted  men  is  to  build  a  church,  go  into  the 
pulpit  and  say  :  "Come."  The  Church  is  finding  out  that 
by  this  method  comparatively  few  people  arc  reached.  If 
this  is  true  generally,  it  is  especially  true  of  the  French 
Roman  Catholics  of  New  England.  They  will  not  be 
brought  into  our  American  churches  by  this  method,  nor 
will  very  many  find  their  Avay  into  our  French  Protestant 
houses  of  worship  in  this  way.  We  need  our  churches  and 
pastors  as  we  purpose  showing  in  the  next  chapter,  but  we 
do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  we  need  especially  at  this  stage 
of  the  work,  another  class  of  workers. 

Before  the  French  ("Canadians  will  take  the  first  step  to- 
ward union  or  assimilation  with  the  people  of  this  nation, 
many  deep-seated  prejudices  must  be  removed.  It  is  the 
force  of  these  prejudices  wliich  keeps  them  away  from  the 
public  schools  and  leads  them  to  shun  all  Protestant  influ- 
ences. 

Americans  have  no  conception  of  the  ignorance  in  which 
thousands  of  Koinanists  are  kept.  When  we  say  ignorance 
wc  mean,  in  so  fur  as  Protestantism  is  concerned.  Thous- 
ands imagine  that  Protestants  are  out  and  out  atheists,  be- 
lieving in  neither  God  nor  devil,  men  who  never  pray. 

Kev.  J.  Provost,  now  pastor  of  the  French  Protestant 
church  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  told  us  that  when  as  a  boy, 


Our  Mfthodn  of  Warfare. 


1    O.I 


lo- 
tion, 
tlie 
the 
itidu- 

,'hirh 
i'liuce 

lOUS- 

S  be- 

jstant 
boy, 


he  went  to  onr  niissioniiry  institiuion  at  Pointc-aux-Trcnibles, 
he  was  lirnily  coiivniced  that  at  some  time  or  other  in  the 
day,  he  wonhl  see  tlie  (U'vil.  Cireat  was  his  snrj)i'ise  when 
instead  of  the  (h-vil,  he  saw  a  man  ot' ( lod,  liibK'  in  hand, 
readinji^  the  .story  ot"  Christ's  love,  and  otK^ring  a  simple 
prayer,  the  Catholic  l)()y  eould  understand. 

The  brotlu'r  ot' one  of  onr  stndi'iits  later  on  went  to  tiic 
same  sehof)l.  The  tlr.st  night  he  was  in  mortal  terror.  He 
had  ])een  told  that  the  evil  one  dwelt  in  that  school.  His 
mind  soon  became  divcsti-d  of  those  jirejadices  and  he,  as 
well  as  Mr.  Provost,  have  become  heralds  of  the  Gospel. 

A  short  time  anit,  I  asked  one  of  onr  stndents  \\ho  has 
become  a  Pi-otestant,  what  he  btdieved  concerning;  Pr(jtest- 
ants  before  lu'  came  to  the  French  Protestant  College.  He 
said:  "'1  thon^lit  you  did  not  believe  in  God,  that  you 
never  praved  but  >pent  vou)'  time  in  al)usin';  the  \'ir<riii 
Mary." 

I  remi'mherone  instance  of  unpardonable  ignorance  which 
occni'red  when  I  was  at  tlu^  Pninte-aux-Trembh's  schools. 

Pomanists  are  made  lo  believe  that  Protestimt  missionaries 
buy  the  religion  of  their  converts  and  obtain  a  certain  per- 
centage on  each  pui'chase  made  ! 

C)ne  (lav  a  man  who  claime(l  to  be  a  Roman  Catlutlie 
came  to  the  institution,  asked  to  see  the  principal,  and  stated 
that  h  J  had  c(un»!  to  sell  his  religion.  Mr.  \'ernon,  desirous 
of  giving  a  good  ol)ject  h'sson  to  the  students,  aske<l  the  man 
to  walk  into  the  recitation  room,  and  made  him  explain  the 
object  of  his  visit. 

jNIr.  W'l'iion  asked  him  wliy  lie  wanteil  to  S(dl  his  religion  ? 
Was  it  good  or  bad?  If  good,  why  did  lu;  not  keep  it.''  H' 
bad,  we  had  no  need  of  it.  Moreover  when  he  bought 
anything  he  of  course  re(pured  that  it  shouhl  be  measured 
out,  so  that  he  might  know  how    many  pounds,  bushels  or 


134  Your  JFIeritage. 

yards  wore  dtilivered.  I-'iiiully  to  bring  this  somewhat  em- 
barrassing iiuerview  to  a  close,  the  man  was  asked  wliat  price 
he  set  upon  such  an  article.  lie  blandly  replied  :  '-Twenty 
five  dollars." 

That  such  and  kindred  superstitions  and  prejudices  still 
exist,  no  one  need  attempt  to  deny.  Where  these  have  dis- 
appeared, they  have  been  rei)laced  l)y  al)ject  indiiference  to 
the  things  of  God.  In  either  case  there  stands  a  barrier  bc- 
twiicn  the  masses  and  the  (Jospel  of  truth  and  freedom. 

There  lies  a  ch.ism  between  tlie  christian  chui<di  aud 
other  saving  inflnences  aiid  these  unevaiigelized  multitudes. 
Ht)W  is  this  cliMsm  to  1»>'  bridged? 

We  think  that  ju--i  here  is  needed  a  large  body  of  Chris- 
tian, consecrated  and  well-trained  men  and  women,  willing 
to  do  house-to-house  woi'k  an<l  satisfied  with  such  woi'k.  It 
is  no  easy  undertaking. 

It  recpiires  tirst,  deej)  i)iety,  a  ))rofound  conviction  that 
souls  out  of  Christ  are  lost,  a  ])assion  for  the  salvation  of 
these  souls,  and  a  great  amount  of  self-denial  and  consecra- 
tion. 

That  there  is  a  great  dearth  of  siu'h  uien  and  women  in 
our  French  I'rotestant  I'hurches  in  America,  will  be  hum- 
bly admitted,  by  all  who  understaiul  what  true  piety  and 
consecration  are,  and  \\lio  are  ac(piainted  with  the  state  of 
thiijgs  in  our  clnirches.  There  is  nothing  to  be  gained  in 
concealing  the  truth.  Our  churciies  n»'ed  tin;  baptism  of 
the  Holy  (ihost  and  a  gemiine  revival  ot  I'eligion.  It  is 
ours  to  recogni/.e  it  and  adopt  proper  methods  to  bring 
about  the  changes  we  need. 

In  another  chapter  we  will  endeavor  to  show   how  such 


workers  a';e 


to  be 


prepi 


ire( 


'':| 


AVe  cannot  here  enter  into  details.      It  will  sullice  to  say 
that  a  bodv  of  W(  U-trained  missionaries,  both  men  and  wo- 


n  i'^i 


Our  Jfethods  of  Warfare. 


135 


men,  visiting  from  liouse  to  house,  would  ellect  grejit  chan- 
ges among  the  masses. 

The  ]Massac'liusetts  Society  empk)ys  Kev.  T.  (J.  A.  C'c>te 
as  general  inissionary.  It'  he  had  ten,  twenty  or  more 
workers  of  this  kind  under  his  ciare,  whom  lie  could  place 
in  various  llelds  which  seem  to  be  particularly  ready  t'oi- 
culture,  we  cannot  (lo(il)t  that  huiulreds  of  souls  would  be 
gathered  into  the  Ivingdom. 

This  house-to-hous(^  work  will  necessarily  differ  according 
to  the  circumstances  of  the  peo{)le.  JNIuch  common  sense 
and  judgment  s'lould  be  exercised  in  the  doing  of  it. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  gain  the  contidence  of  the 
French  and  convini-e  them  tliat  Protestants  an;  not  such 
wicked  {)eople  as  has  been  imagined.  Then,  when  practic- 
able, the  Bible  sliould  be  })laced  in  the  homes.  It  is  a 
power  before  whi(di  Romanism  nm.-t  fall.  If  the  Church 
of  Rome  will  allow  us  to  place  a  l)ii)le  in  every  French 
Canadian  home  of  Ni'w  England,  and  not  iiUerfere  "with 
the  reading  of  it  by  the  people,  we  make  bold  to  allirm  that 
before  twenty  years  the  maj(U'ity  of  the  French  will  think 
as  we  do. 

This  missionary  work  will  soon  otfer  abundant  opportu- 
nity for  cottage-meetings,  with  the  sinirimrofGospid  hymns 
and  free  conterences.  Such  meetings  are  held  with  good 
results  by  some  of  our  Frcncdi  pastors.  We  will  be  told  that 
we  arc  not  suggesting  anything  M-ry  new.  NV^e  are  quite 
aware  of  it.  AVhat  we  are  pleading  for  is  an  eidargeinent 
ot  this  work.  Instead  of  a  small  haiidlul  of  missionaries 
we  ■want  scores.  We  want  them  in  New  Hampshire,  Ver- 
mont, Connecticut,  IMaine,  Rhodi;  Islaiul,  New  York  and 
the  West.  The  time  has  passe<l  for  tlie  New  England 
Home  Missionary  Societies  to  say  they  haV'  no  occasion  to 
undertake  such  a  work.     The    occasion    is    there    and    the 


f1 


If; 


'I  '^  f 


l."i6  I^our  Heritage. 

duty  of  seizing  it  i.s  made  by  God  as  clear  as  it  can  possi- 
bly be. 

We  also  insist  upon  this  phase  of  work,  because  the 
tendency  is  to  disregard  it  and  merge  everything  into  the 
more  strictly  speaking  pastoral  Nvork,  Avhicii  of  itself  is 
insuillcient  to  solve  itie  problem.  We  repeat  that  the 
present  condition  of  tlie  iield  demands  a  corps  of  lay- 
workers,  to  go  in  and  out  among  the  people,  interest  them- 
selves in  their  every-day  life,  see  that  their  children  arc 
sent  to  school,  and  that  their  young  men  and  women  are 
made  acquainted  witii  the  opportunities  otl'ered  them  for 
obtaining  a  higher  education  at  the  French  Protestant 
College, 

Tliere  is  another  phase  of  missionary  work  which  has 
succeeded  in  France,  and  in  which  Anu'i'i(;an  Christians 
have  taken  a  very  deep  interest,  that  could  be  introduced 
among  the  Frencdi  of  New  England  with  similar  success. 
We  refer  to  tlu>  ^McAll  Mission  work. 

AVe  JKive  already  stated  that  a  large  number  among  the 
French  have  drifted  away  from  the  Church  of  Rome  and 
fallen  into  religious  indill'ercnce.  That  number  is  increas- 
ing rapidly.  We  fail  to  see  why  hundreds  of  these  could 
not  be  reached  just  as  well  as  the  French  of  Europe.  The 
French  Canadians  and  the  European  French  have  been 
under  the  same  system  of  religion.  It  has  proved  inade- 
quate to  meet  their  religious  wants.  It  has  left  them  with- 
out any  religion. 

In  France  the  AIcAll  mission  has  offered  the  simple 
Story  (jf  re(lemption  to  these  disappointed,  dissatisfied  and 
deceived  nudtitudes.  Hundreds  have  received  the  truth 
and  have  been  savt'd.  We  cannot  very  well  see  why  a 
similar  work  cannot  be  done  in  this  country.  In  cities  like 
Lowell,  Lawrence,  Fall  River,    ]Manchester,  Ilolyoke  and 


Our  MUu.'h  n/  War/are.  137 

many  otluTs,  there  are  liiiinlreds,  yea  thousaiuls  who  never 
go  to  church,  who  know  nothh),i:f  of  Christ,  who  are  per- 
ishing^ tor  hick  of  knowledge,  many  of  wlioiu  would  be 
saved  were  tlio  Gospel  ollered   tliem. 

I  must  frankly  confess  that  it  has  been  a  wonder  to  mc, 
not  that  such  a  deep  interest  has  been  manifested  in  the 
evan^^^elization  of  France,  but  that  the  same  interest  should 
not  be  taken  in  the  salvation  of  a  people  of  the  same  race, 
at  our  door,  held  under  the  same  false  svstem  of  relinfion 
and  brought,  in  a  very  large  measure,  to  the  same  state  of 
religious  indiflcrence,  by  the  insulliciency    of  that    system. 

There  is  a  reason  to  oifer,  and  a  satisfactory  one,  which 
explains  this  apparent  in(;otisistcncy.  Tlie  (Christians  of 
this  land  have  ncjt  had  the  information  needed.  It  has  been 
my  privilege  to  speak  before  a  great  many  conferences  of 
churches,  and  before  many  of  the  lea<ling  churches  of 
Massachusetts  both  in  the  cities  and  in  the  country,  and  I 
have  uniformly  found  that  the  people  were  intensely  inter- 
ested in  the  i'acts  j)ertaining  to  this  prol)lem  as  they  wei'c 
presented  to  them.  It  would  be  a  great  mistake  and  in 
fact  it  were  unjust  to  say,  that  the  Christians  of  this  land 
are  indillerent  to  so  vital  a  problem.  Give  them  tlie 
information  they  need  and  ask  for,  and  the  fimds  necessary 
for  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  various  departments  of 
this  work  will  be  forthcoming. 

It  seems  to  me  that  xrvy  much  good  missionary  woi'k 
could  be  done,  as  our  college  develops  and  the  number  of 
our  students  increases,  by  tlie  young  men,  both  during  the 
college  session  and  diu'ing  the  summer  vacation. 

During  the  vacation,  the  young  men  couM  be  sent  to 
dift'erent  parts  of  the  country,  not  in  Nen'  York  and  Ncav 
England  only,  but  in  the  AVest  where  there  are  thousands 
of  French.     Chicago  alone  has  some  .'30,(JOO.     During   the 


I*] 


t.'l 


•  t 


;  I 


138  Your  ILritarje 

session  siicli  cities  and  towns  as  Tlolyoke,  Hartford, 
Northain[)t()n,  Three  Kivers,  Spencer,  Warren,  Worcester 
could  he  visited,  "Salles"  as  they  are  called,  opened  and 
Gospel  services  held. 

The  small  sum  of  SloO  would  be  sufficient  to  employ  a 
young  man  during  the  summer  vacation.  AVitli  a  com- 
paratively small  outlay  very  much  elficient  work  could  be 
done. 

Likewise  during  the  winter  months,  the  students  would 
willingly  ,"•()  out  and  hold  religious  meetings,  if  they  could 
have  suitable  rooms,  a  small  organ  and  if  possible,  the  use 
of  stereopticon  views.  The  field  awaits  us,  some  workers 
ai-e  ready  to  enter  it.  It  belongs  to  the  Christians  who 
have  means,  to  furnish  that  whi(;h  is  lacking. 

It  is  our  firm  conviction  that  the  stereopticon  coidd  be 
used  with  wonderful  results,  in  such  meetings. 

Scenes  in  the  life  of  Christ,  parables  such  as  that  of  the 
Prodigal  Son  could  be  (ixhibited,  while  the  earnest  miss- 
ionary would  apply  tii.;  spii'itual  lessons  to  the  heart  with 
telling  effect.  Many  conversions  would  follow  such  efforts. 
Souls  are  perishing,  that  we  know,  and  surely  it  belongs  to 
us  to  put  forth  ordinary  and  extraordinary  efforts  to  save 
them.  The  gospel  has  not  lost  its  power.  The  people  are 
not  saved,  tlnnigh  in  a  land  of  Gospel  privileges,  because 
the  sound  of  the  Gospel  trumjiet  does  not  reach  their    ears. 

Ill  order  that  evangelistie  i'fforts  of  this  character  and  all 
missionary  eflbrts  or  eiuK'a\()rs  among  the  French  may  be 
made  successful,  it  is  essential  that  there  should  be  a  divi- 
sion of  the  missionary  field  between  the  different  societies. 
AVith  such  a  vast  territory  to  occupy,  it  were  sinful  for 
missionaries  of  various  denominations  to  crowd  into  the 
same  towns  and  cities.  This  irrational  and  unchristian 
method  has  prevailed   to  too  gveat  an  extent  in  the  past. 


0(1)'  Jhtlirtds  of  Warfitrt' 


i;39 


BociiusG  u  denomination  hiis  a  few  cotiverts  in  u  city,  ii 
considers  ii  a  saci-cd  duty  to  in'ovont  tlirm  from  joining  an- 
otlier  branch  of  the  Christian  church,  wliich  may  heat  work 
there.  The  all  important  thinj;  seems  U)  be  to  make  Meth- 
odists, Baptists  or  Congregationalists  of  the  converts  from 
Romanism.  As  a  result  of  tliis,  too  often  their  attachment 
to  a  {)articular  denomination  seems  much  stronger  than  their 
union  with  Christ.      Su(di  should  not  be  the  case. 

Ourgreat  aim  should  be  to  make  Christians  of  those  among 
whom  we  labor.  It  belongs  to  the  missionary  societies  to 
j)revent  a  sinful  waste  of  money,  time  and  elfort  in  these  de- 
nominational (luarrels,  bv  ai^recinu'  anionic  themselves  to 
make,  as  far  as  practicable,  a  j)roper  division  of  the  fiehl. 

The  various  evangelical  churches  can  look  to  the  French 
Protestant  College  for  missionaries.  The  institution  is  un- 
denominational and  aims  at  giving  a  broad.  Christian  edu- 
cation which  will  fit  young  men  for  service  in  the  church 
of  their  choice.  It  is  (juite  natural  tliat  a  denomination 
should  seek  to  l)uild  up  a  church  holding  its  ])articular 
views.  This  is  not  what  we  oljject  to.  AVe  ask  that  the 
varit)us  churches  exercise  enough  of  christian  love  to  cease 
sending  two  and  thi'ee  missionaries  in  the  same  field,  when 
one  would  do  tlu;  work,  not  only  as  successfully,  but  with 
better  results,  liy  adopting  this  pauline  and  Christian  me- 
thod, a  wasteful  expenditure  of  missionary  funds  will  be 
avoided  and  the  spiritual  results  will  be  tenfold  greater. 


K 


IPI 

I 

111 

'I 

ll    ^ 

■  t 


CHAPTER  III 


OUR  METHODS  OF  WAUrAKK. riTrRCII  WORK. 

AVe  believe  the  clmrcli  to  Ix;  a  divine  institution,  and 
that  whatever  otlier  agencies  may  be  employed  to  bring 
souls  to  a  knowledge  of  Christ,  they  should  be  looked  upon 
only  fts  stepping  stones  leading  to  Christ's  Church. 

It  has  been  the  histoiy  of  all  missionary  efibrts,  that 
permanent  results  have  ne\  er  bei-n  secured,  independently 
ofthe  regularly  organised  church.  In  times  of  revivals,  or 
when  such  missionary  etlbrts  as  those  of  the  McAll  Mission 
had  succeeded  in  arousing  the  spii'itual  interest  of  the 
multitudes,  it  has  been  found  that  unless  the  converts  were 
gathered  into  some  ofthe  branches  ofthe  Church  of  Christ, 
what  seemed  to  j)romise  great  residts  proved  to  be  ephe- 
mei-al ;  the  permanent  fruits  were  but  few. 

In  all  likelihood  there  will  be  general  agreement  on  this 
point   among  the  various  societies    which  are  prosecuting 

missionary  labors  among  t  .c  foreign   populations  of   this 
Christian  country. 

There  is  however  a  diversity  of  opinion  on  the  question 
of  the  gathering  of  the  converts  from  the  ranks   of   our 


Our  Methods  of  Warfare, 


Ml 


foreign  ])opulatioii,  into  churches.  Should  they  unite  with 
the  American  churches,  or  should  they  form  themselves 
into  French,  (ierman,  Swedish  churches  in  connection  with 
the  various  evangelical  denominations? 

Up  to  recently,  the  iormation  of  separate  churches  lor 
foreigners,  luis  not  been  looked  upon  with  favor  by  the 
niissioiuu'y  societies  and  by  Americans  generally.  The 
(.Itjection  has  been  made  and  urged,  that  the  establishment 
i>f  such  churches  woulil  have  the  tendency  of  developing  a 
clannishspirit,  which  would  naturally  i)i'cvcnt  that  fusion  of 
races  desirable  for  the  peace,  good-will  and  general  pros- 
perity of  this   republic. 

At  first  sight  the  objection  appears  to  be  a  strongone  and 
if  it  l)e  considered  alone  it  strikes  one  a»i  being  insuj)erable. 
AVe  think  however,  that  there  is  vi-ry  much  to  be  said  on 
the  other  side  of  tiie  question.  AVc  arc  fully  satisfied  in 
our  mind,  that  the  formation  of  separate  churches,  is  for 
the  time  being,  wise  and  productive  of  good  results.  In 
fact,  GUI'  experience  (jf  seven  years  of  missionary  wo'"k  in 
New  England  has  more  than  convinced  us,  that  so  far  as 
the  Frencli  are  concerned,  the  process  of  unification  has 
been  greatly  advanced  by  the  formation  of  separate  French* 
churches. 

liefore  the  year  1877,  when  Rev.  T.  O.  A.  Cote  now  Gene- 
I'al  Missionary  of  the  ^Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  socie- 
ty lirstcalled  tlie  attention  of  the  Congregational  churches  to 
the  important  duty  of  evangelizing  the  French,  the  liaptist 
church  had  done  a  good  deal  of  faithful  work  in  this  dii-ec- 
tion.  It  will  be  adm'tted  that  notwithstanding  the  fidelity 
of  the  missionaries,  no  very  deep  impression  had  been 
made  upon  the  French  masses  nor  ui)on  the  American 
population.  This  fact  can  be  attributed  partly  to  one  class 
of  causes    and  partly  to    another.     The    field    was    a    new 


142 


•[nur 


Jii  rll 


ii'/e 


m 


one  and  a  vrry  ilillicult  oiiu  to  cultivate^  The  l<'r(>iinh 
Romanists  had  not  been  as  lonir,  "rtMn Tally  speaking,  under 
the  liherali/iiiLT  inlhuMices  of  American  inslitiitiun.s  us  many 
to  whom  we  now  picaeh  tli!  ( lospel.  The  eonverts  were 
fewer  in  innnhiT  and  intliience  than  at  present.  The  Ame- 
ricans did  not  I'ecoL'nixe  the  nee<iol'such  missionary  efforts, 
many  in  fa''t  decidedly  ol)_iectcd  to  this  •'  nnwarrantable 
proselytisml",  as  a  good  many  still  do.  Tlicse  and  kindred 
causes  necessarily  retarded  the  progress  of  this  evangelistic 
movement. 

lint  it  is  onr  conviction,  based  on  what  we  beli(!ve  to  be 
sound  reasom'ng  us  well  as  on  exj)erience,  that  th»!  |)olicy 
of  the  lUiptist  church  has  al>o  had  much  to  do  with  the 
comparative  slowness  of  the  woi-k. 

The  l)aj)tist  Home  JNIissionary  Society  has  been  opposed 
all  along,  to  the  formation  of  separate  churches  for  French 
converts.  The  missionaries  have  been  instructed  to  incor- 
porate all  their  convei'ts  into  the  American  churches,  la 
places  where  there  ai'e  but  few  Canadians,  this  is  of  course 
the  best,  the  wisest,  in  fact  the  oidy  thing  to  do.  IJut  in 
towns  and  cities  where  the  Fi-cnch  are  found  in  large  and 
•ever-increasing  numbers,  we  do  ntjt  think  that  this  policy 
is  the  most  fruitful  in  good  results. 

AVe  can  give  here  but  a  few,  among  the  many  reasons, 
which  have  led  us  to  this  conviction. 

Let  us  first  ask  what  are  we  aimiiig  at?  Is  not  our 
great  object  the  conversion  and  salvation  of  the  people  of 
this  land,  regardless  of  nationality?  Are  we  not  agreed  ou 
this  point,  that  if  we  can  make  Christians  of  the  French, 
German,  Irish,  Swedes  or  other  foreigners  who  seek  a 
liome  here,  we  will  have  no  occasion  wdiatcver  to  fear  their 
influence? 

AVhen  we  speak  of  foreigners  and  of  the  bad  influence 


Our  M  tliixh  iif  W'tir/ii 


I'l' 


143 


1(1  on 

|ncli, 
^k  a 
their 

Icuce 


they  may  exert  in  tlii.s  ooiiiitry,   what  chiss  ,»t'  people   have 
we  ill  iniiid?     Eii^Mish  i'piscopaliaiis?     No.     Seotch   Pres- 


byter 


laii." 


Not    ill    the    h'ast.       Irish    I'rotestaiits  ?     N 


o. 


French  I'rotiiStaiits,  the  spiritual  (h'scemlaiit.s  of  the  Iliiiriie- 
iiots  ?     \\y  no  nii-aiis.      It    is   not   tlu;    nationality   that    we 


Tear 


\\ 


are 


itVaiil    of   the    reliirions    oi-    noii-reliLrious 


attitude  of  the  p(!ople  who   come    to   us    fi-oni   otlier    lands. 
When  we  speak  of  the  FriMieh  inllueiice    in    New    Mni^dand, 


we  mean  the  Komish 


inii 


neiict! 


It 


is    Ivonianisni   we    fear 


\\ 


ith  its  false  conception  of  the  relations  which  should  exist 


between  church  and    st'itt',   with    its    en-otieo 


us    vKMVs    on 


e( 


hu'at 


lonal  matters,  witli  Us  sacer(l()tali.-«m,  with  its  inoiiiii 


chical  ideas,  with  its  wrong  vii-ws  on  the  I>il)le  and  on  the 
place  it  should  oceui)y  as  a  moral  and  ridi.Ldous  educator. 

If  I  am  right  in  these  positions  and  if  you  aeee])t  tlu'iu 
with  me,  you  will  also  agree  with  me  when  I  say  tliat  those 
methods  of  work  which  will  most  speedily  and  t'trectively 
ri'inovi!  the  old  rtdigioiis  sn[)erstions  and  prejiulices  from  the 
minds  and  hearts  (d' the  people,  rej)lacing  them  by  (Josptd 
truth,  are  tlie  nu-thods  to  be  emi)loyed  by  us.  The  Gospel 
hiithfully  preached  will  do  its  work,  be  it  j)reached  in  (Jer- 
man,  Italian,  French  or  English.  The  woman  of  Samaria, 
the  jailor  of  Phili[)pi,  the  three  thonsaml  converted  undt.'r 
I'oter's  preaching,  were  converted  l)y  iht;  power  of  the  Crus- 
pel,  but  it  was  not  preached  in   Knglish. 

We  give  the  following  reasons  why  French  churcdies 
should  be  established. 

1.  The  French  Canadians  who  know  not  the  truth,  are 
prejudiced  against  that  which  is  Protestant  aiul  American 
or  English.  With  very  few  exceptions,  they  will  not  enter 
American  houses  of  worship.  If  however,  they  are  ap- 
proached by  Protestant  Christians  of  their  own  nationality, 
who  speak  to  them  ill   their  own  tongue,  and  invited  to  a 


HMI 


5SP" 


iH 


144  Vuvr  Jlcritayc 

church  of"  their  own  ntitiouality,  they  are  more  incliend  to 
listeii.  Race  alliuities  are  strong,  and  he  were  a  blind  man 
who  wouhl  persist  in  ignoring  them. 

Having  succeeded  in  hringiiig  them  into  contact  with  tiie 
French  Protestant  clnirch,  they  may  be  induced  to  attend  a 
.sociabl*^  where  they  hear  a  i)rayer  which  touches  their  heart 
and  all  the  more  so,  because  it  is  in  the  tongue  they  love  so 
much.      They    hear  a  Fren(;h    hymn   which  moves  them. 

Thcv  bci^in  to  think  that  these  Protestants  are  not  such 
bad  [)eople  at'te)'  all.  Tliey  intpiire  after  the  truth,  they  are 
converted  and  saved,  by  means  of  the  church  home  of  their 
own  nationality. 

2.  ThiM-e  are  thousands  and  thousands  of  French  Canadians 
in  this  counti'v,  who  <lo  not  nnderstantl  the  English  language 
sulliciently  to  be  instructed  and  (Mlil'uMll)y  asernion  in  that 
tongue.  Every  year  moi'e  are  coming.  They  will  not  learn 
the  Knfjlisli  laiiLruage  vorv  fast  unless  they  be  brouij:ht  in 
contact  wiih  I'rotestant  iulluciices.  If  we  wait  untill  they 
kiit)\v  JMiglish  to  cilucate  and  savi'  them,  tiiou^^ands  will 
never  be  saved.  It  is  no  use  to  try  and  mak*-  a  nuui  pray  in  a 
tongue  he  doe><  not  understan<l. 

t).  We  believe  in  the  establishment  of  separate  churches, 
forming  part  of  the  existing  deiu.minations,  because  wc 
need  these  churches  to  act  as  evangelistic  agencies  among 
the  ])eople  whom  \v'c  are  trying  to  reach.  ]>y  introducing 
the  converts  iiitc  the  .Vmerican  churches,  we  lose  practi- 
<'ally  their  help  and  inlluence.  The  .VmericiMi  church* 
abs(n'l>s  them,  gets  the  help  oftheir  influence  and  their linan- 
cial  snjjport.  It  is  so  nuich  more;  pk'asant  there,  that  tliey 
do  not  feel  \efv  nuich  disj)osed  to  turn  their  attention  to  the 
more  dilficult  and  uni)leasant  work  which  the  French  field 
calls  for.  If  they  are  bi'ight  and  iiUelligent  young  men 
and  asjiire  to  the  holy  ministry,  they  ent(U'  some   .Vmerican 


Iirclics, 
use    AVI 

[il'iciiig 
pi'ucti- 
cliurch  ■ 

|r  ihuiu- 

|it  Ihey 
1  to  the 
•11  iiold 

lis  men 
kuM'icaii 


Our  Jldhoils  of  Warfare.  145 

institution  and  devute    their   litb   to  work   among   English 
speaking  people. 

Just  at  this  point,  we  hear  many  say,  "That's  jusi  what 
we  want,  the  unilication  of  the  various  raees  of  this  coun- 
try." Aiid  we  too  want  this,  l)ut  we  are  satislicd  that  this 
is  a  slow  way  of  reaching  tlie  end  desired.  Take  the 
trouble  of  incjuiring  how  many  have  fouiul  their  way  into 
your  ^Vmerican  churches  in  that  manner,  and  you  will 
discover  that  the  mimber  is  comparatively  very  small. 

We  have  Ijroader  aims.  "We  wish  to  tak(»  [)ossession  of 
this  whole  lield  and  to  do  that  we  nuist  have  W(jrkers 
ii.'terested  in  this  special  pliase  of  work,  a:id  working  agen- 
cies. The  French  church  must  be  tlu>  (,'entre  of  ojieration. 
Tlie  interest  of  the  French  Protestant  nuist  be  kept  uj>  by 
contact  with  his  people.  The  older  converts  ki^ep  the  new 
ones  and  also  draw  into  the  cluuvh  home,  a,  great  many 
who  could  not  be  induced  to  enter  an  American  chui'ch. 

4.  r>nt  wc  give  a  fourth  reason  which  has  nuich  weight 
for  all  who  have  had  some  experience  in  this  direction. 

Though  tlie  statement  may  seem  solf-conrradict(jry,  it  is 
none  the  less  true.  French  Protestant  churches  instead  of 
preventing  the  unilication  of  the  i-aces,  helps  it.  I'hey 
bring  the  Freiudi  in  much  lai'gtu"  niniil)in'>,  for  reasons  given 
above,  into  contact  with  Protestant  inllnences,  and  this  is 
all  that  is  necisssary,  to  make  of  them  true.  Christian  citi- 
zens, loyal  to  the  constitution  of  this  nation.  As  the 
Protestaiuism  of  this  land  is  American,  the  natural  residt 
is  that  the  Froich  become  true  to  the  Christian  civilization 
ol  this  republii',  in  that  measure  in  whicii  tliey  iml)ibe 
Protestant  \iews.  it  does  not  matter  through  what  tongue  it 
is.  It  is  ecpuilly  true  that  contact  with  ]*rotestantism 
means  contact  with  people  speaking  the  English  language  on 
the   one    hanil,   and    with    others    who  are    ncjt   afraid    to 


! 

i  ;■ 

}  : 

r«  ■ 

i  : 

i  I 

uc> 


J 


our 


Ih'.rlf< 


line. 


"J 


u 


cuni  ii  ;i'.i<l  \vl;o  very  soon  acqiiin!  it   and  pprtak  it  fluently. 

It  niiiy  also  \w  said  that  the  young  people  of  our  French 
Pi'dti'stant  churchi's,  forniiiig  new  associution.s  largely  be- 
cause iln'V  ha\'e  l)ec'n  brought  within  the  n.'ach  of  a  Pro- 
testant chiw-h,  h'ain  the  KnL''lish  language  very  rapidly. 
In  fact  Ave  have  to  tea<'h  our  Saboath  school>  very  largely 
in  that  hin_i^urge.  We  lose  a  great  many  who,  from  our 
Sun(hiy  schools,  go  to  .Vmerican  schools.  We  do  not  i  <iu- 
])l;iiii  \ciy  nuich  ot'that  although,  as  has  already  been  said, 
our  woi'king  t'oi-ci.'  is  weaki'iu-d.  We  need  Sunday  school 
teacht'i's.  JicljjtM's  ni  oiii-  prayer-nieeiings  to  strengthen  the 
newcomers,  and  Christian  workes's  to  aid  the  pastor. 

If  it  wen'  neeessaiy  to  say  more,  we  might  adil,  that  it 
iv  to  the  church  of  (Jod  tiiat  the  work  of  saving  souls  i3 
conuniiiid  autl  not  to  to  the  minister  of  the  church  only. 
Jl'  \vc  can  ha\e  a  goilly  1' "rencli  I'l'otestant  church,  compos- 
of  |iions  members,  it  will  be  a  nughty  power  fo  the  conver- 
tion  to  ('hi-i.-t  of  these  thousands  whom  God  has  sent  here* 

The  (jiiestlon  is  often  asked  :  What  is  the  best  system  of 
chufch  go\H'rnMie!il  for  such  churches? 

Tliis  is  .nioi lu'r  didicate  (pu'siion  to  ai:swer.  We  are  not 
sure  thai  the  Congri'gatioiud  polity  i.>  the  best.  The  trans- 
ition from  Uonii.-h  prelacy  to  jiure  iiulependencc  has,  in 
maiiv  ca-es,  pro\'ed  to  be  locj  siulden  ami  radical.  It  is  an 
exceedinirlv  <lil1icult  thini;:  lor  a  ))astor  to  do  the  work 
vliich  his  -uperior  education,  his  better  knowledge  of  Gos- 
ptd  ti-uth  and  <dmrch  methods  entitle  hiui  to  advise  ai  d  and 
accomplish.  If  he  is  a  man  of  action,  with  a  well-defmeJ 
policy,  to  which  he  adheres,  he  will  not  have  a  very  soft 
bed  to  lie  on.  Ii  would  ])e  very  helpful  for  him  at  times  to 
have  some  churtdi  court  to  look  to  for  anvice  and  especially 
for  supj)ort.  As  Pi-otestant  Chi-istian  education  is  dispen- 
sed, these  dilllculties  will  diminish. 


lly 

LiU- 


Our  MdliOih  of    War/arc.  147 

It  is  our  conviction  that  these  French  churches  which  are 
now  being  established  in  this  country,  will  soon  be  bi- lin- 
gual. It  will  be  i'ound  necessary  I'or  the  pastors  to  preach 
eipially  well  in  the  two  languages.  At  one  of  the  services 
the  FreiR'h  language  will  be  used, for  the  ohhn-  people  who 
will  never  fully  understand  english,  and  foi-  lu'w  comers. 
At  the  (jlher  service  the  Knglish  tongue  will  bi;  Used  for  the 
younger  portion  of  the  congregation. 

I  need  not  say  that  the  French  Catholic  clergy  and  jour- 
nalists will  accuse  us  ofran>[  heresy  for  nudving  such  a  stat- 
nieut  ;  the  writer  will  l^e  called  a  traitcn-  to  his  naticMiality 
and  accused  of  being  wh(dly  destitute  of  patriotism.  All  I 
can  answer  is,  tliat  one  of  the  elements  o{'  patriotism  is 
common  sense  and  this  common  sense  shows  itself  in  the 
advocacy  of  measures  which  have  in  view  the  betterment  of 
one's  natitjuality. 

For  tlie  sake  of  courting  popularity  with  a  class  of  men 
on  wlunu  we  cannot  depend  for  loyal  help,  in  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  the  French  CV.nadians,we  do  ;:')t  ))urpose  to  plead  for 
a  state  of  things  \vhich,  insteml  of  aiding  (;ur  nationality 
n'oidd  impede  its  ])rugress'  We  can  retain  oui'  love  ((jr  our 
native  country,  we  can  continue  to  cultivate  and  speak  (jur 
bcautifid  French  tongue  without  atrem})ting  to  hedge  our- 
selves in  by  racial  antipathies  and  clownish  notions,  which 
wouhl  throw  us  tnit  of  tlie  religious,  political  and  social  life 
of  the  n.'.tion,  This  were  a  \eiy  strange  kind  of  [)atriotism 
;o  attempt  to  create  among  oiu'  jjeopli'. 

If  the  FiHMurh  ('anadians  desire  to  prosper  in  the  huid  of 
their  adoption,  tlu>y  nuisi  learn  the  langinige  of  this  country 
they  nnist  becoin(>  acc(pianled  with  its  civilizatiim  and  ac- 
cept it.  This  they  are  sure  to  do  ,s(j  soon  as  they  under- 
stand it.  We  are  tired  of  the  empty  cry  :  "  tongue,  our  nat- 
ionality, on.'  institutions  ". 


^:] 


148 


Your  Heritage. 


\ 


>.  ( 


"•I 


f 


I 'I 


The  time  lias  come  for  the  enlightened  French  Canadians 
of  tliis  country,  to  disphiy  a  genuine  patriotism,  by  adopt- 
ing measures  that  will  make  of  their  countrymen,  free  men. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  also,  that  we  have  very  little 
sympathy  with  a  certain  class  among  our  French  converts 
who  are  ever  ready  to  take  offence  at  our  French  pastors 
and  other  leaders  in  this  movement,  ])ecaase  they  reveal  unto 
the  American  [jublic,  the  intellectual,  moral  and  religious 
condition,  created  among  the  masses,  by  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic church. 

It  is  one  of  the  principle  weaknesses  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic jjress,  to  l)e  praising  up  the  Frencli  Canadian  race,  taken 
as  a  whole,  as  if  it  had  reached  the  acme  of  perfection,  en- 
joying the  blessings  of  liberty  and  of  true  education.  The 
immigration  of  1,000,000  to  this  country  belies  sufficiently 
such  insincere  and  untrue  assertions. 

The  French  Protestant  leaders  should  tiave  cnouo:h  of 
back-bone,  not  to  yield  to  this  national  childishness.  At 
the  risk  of  being  unjustly  criticised,  they  should  with  fair- 
ness, candor  and  love,  bring  to  light  the  facts  on  both  sides 
of  this  dedicate  (juestion. 

It  is  by  pointing  out  (dearly  what  Romanism  has  done, 
what  it  has  failed  to  do  for  our  race,  that  Ave  will  succeed 
to  create  an  interest  in  this  work  of  evangelisation,  andlead 
the  Christians  of  this  land  to  adopt  proper  methods  for  their 
salvation. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  give  statistics  of  the  French 
Protestants  of  New  England  and  the  country.  We  have 
not  succeeded  in  obtaining  reliable  enough  information  to 
justify  us  in  giving  ligures  to  the  public. 

The  Congregationalists,  under  the  care  of  the  Massachu- 
setts   Home   Missionary    Society,    have  been  establishing 


1  Canadians 
I,  by  adopt- 
1,  free  men. 
',  very  little 
ch  converts 
iich  pastors 
reveal  unto 
id  religious 
iuian  Catli- 

oman  Catli- 
race, taken 
'fection,  en- 
ation.  The 
i  suiHciently 

enough  of 
shness.  At 
1  with  fair- 
n  both  sides 

n  has  done, 
will  succeed 
ijii,  andlead 
ods  tor  their 

the  French 
We  have 

or  mat  ion   to 

Massachu- 
establishing 


Our  M'fhrxh  of  Warfare.  140 

missions   and  orgatiizing   churclies   in    different   cities  and 

towns  of  Massachusetts. 

In  l'S77  tlic  first  FriMich  church  was  organized  witli  sovcu 

membci-s,  in  Lowidl,  Mass.,  thi-uugh  the  instrunu'iitnlity  of 

Kev.  T.  G.  A.  CAte. 

Since  that  time  over  two   hundred   members   liave  been 

received   into   full    membership,   tlm   majoi'ity  of  these  had 

been,  at  some  time  or  other  of  their  life,  comu'cteil  with  the 

chiu'ch  of  Home.      This  chiu'ch  has  had  four  j>astoi's.    ]ve\'. 

T.  G.  A.  Cote  was  succeeded  by  Kev.  C  \\.  Amaroii,  who 

was  followeil  by  liev.  J.  L.  florin  now  of  Montreal.      The 

present  pastor  is,  lve\'.  d.  II.  Paradis.      The    coiigi-egation 

has  a  good  stone  edifice,  which  was  lately  renovated  at  the 

cost  of  SIOOO.     The  property  is  estimated  at  Sl.'),()0() 

The  second  churcih  organized  was  that  of  Springfield. 
Kev.  J.  Provost  of  Mowrystown,  l)l)io,  became  its  pastor 
and  still  continues  to  b(>.  Tin;  uunnberslni)  is  about  sixty. 
The  cluu'ch  has  a  good  brick  i-difice  e.-timated   at   S12,()()(). 

The  llolvoke  ehurch  was  oryjanized  iii  l.S.Sd,     Kev.  d.  L. 

Morin  became  its  pastor.      He  was  soon  called   to    Lowell. 

The  frerpient  changes  iu  the  pastorate  and  the   irregularity 

necessitated  by  these    changes,    have    intertert'd   with    the 

jjrowth  of  the  coni;reiration.     The  con^^reixation   has   now  a 

membership  of  2.")  and  is  growiug  imder  thi;   ministrations 

ot  Kev.  T.  V.  liruneaii,  formerly  of  Gi'cen  Bay,  Wis.      TIk; 

congregation  has   no  place  of  woi'ship,  and  this  is  a   serious 

drawback. 

The  same  year  a  Fretich  Protestant  chui'ch  wasorganized 

in  Fall  Kiver  and  the  missionary  who  had  been  laboring 
in  the  field,  Kev.  d.  Allanl,  I'ormerly  of  (^hiebec,  became  its 
pastor.  Tiie  last  year-book  givt-s  the  membersbij)  at  (!!> 
but  tiiere  have  been  several  additions  sinct;.  This  congre- 
gation has  one  of  the  best  Sunday  schools,  and  a  good  degree 


M 


if 


!.";()  Yuiir  llvritaijc, 

ofiuissioiiary  spirit  is  sIkjwii  by  i\\\>  people.  A  good  church 
ImlMiiiLr  was  (k'dicated  a  lew  uuMiths  ago  ami  Is  I'ree  from 
debt. 

ill  I'SST  the  AVare  chiii'cli  was  oi'gaiii/(.'<l.  Kev.  T.  A, 
Diirioii  was  ii,->  lirst  pastor.  Mr.  Dcjriou  resigned  to  engage 
ill  I  he  l''i'eiich  woi'k  in  Manchester,  X.  II.  under  the  aus- 
jjiccs  ol'tne  MiMhodist  I'^piscopal  chiii'ch.  lie  was  .succeed- 
ed by  Rev.  .1.  A.  Derouie  who  remained  a  tew  m(jnlhs  only 
resigning  the  pastorate  to  become  editor  ol'  />','  Cifoijcn 
.Franco-Aiiicrnud II .  Rev.  1'.  X.  Cavt-r,  a  graduate  ol  the 
Presbyterian  Cullege,  Mnnti'i'al,  is  ncv  pastor  and  the 
(•hnrch  is  gi'owing  under  his  care.  There  is  also  a  good 
(.'hnrcli-e(b"lice. 

A  lew  months  ago  a  <'lnn'cii  was  organized  in  Spencer 
]\[ass.    JJev.  .1.  (ji.  Motti',  a  ('(Uiverted  priest  is  now  j)astor. 

'riiere  is  us  vet  no  nuHiting  house,  but  the  Auiericuus 
intend  to  erect  one  in  t!u'  near  future. 

^lassachusetts    Socii'tv    lias    also   mission     st 


le 


ai 


Tl 


Piltslield  with   .Mr    Tripet 


>tati 


as 


missionai-v  ;   at   Haverhill 


\\\ 


h  1 


vev 


N.  ( 


.rcLTo 


UH',  a  converted  pi-u'st,  as    worker 


at 


Lawi'ence  when  Mrd.  \\.  Raradis,  a  young  lawyer  rei-ently 
convei'ted,  laboi->  while  pursuing  his  theological  course  at 
.AndoNci'  seminary. 

At  Marlboro.  Rev.  E.  1).  Relletier  is  meeting  with  en- 
couraizmix  success,  a  cimi'cli  editice  has  just  been  dedicated 
and  the  church  organi/i'd. 

All  these  churches  and  missions  have  been  called  into  ex- 
istence nracticallv  ^vitllin  the  la^t  ten  vears.  This  move- 
luent  has  lieen  made  successful  because  of  the  wise,  liberal 
ami  far-seeing  policy  of  the  executive  conunittee  of  the 
Massachusetts  Home  ^Missionary  Society  and  ot'  its  genial 
.secretary  Kev.  dosiiua  Coit. 

The  iiidefaiiiiable  labors  of  Kev.   T.   G.   A.    COle    have 


A, 


at 


Our  JfdIioiJs  o/'   \\'<ii/'(iri.  l.')l 

been  fruitful  in  tiic  tnruiation  of  tlu'sc  yoiiu;^  con^frogiitioiis 
unci  if  the  nR'uiljL'r.s  tluLS  gatlu'i'cil  will  lu-ove  loyal  to  the 
truth  ai)(l  do  their  leLritiniate  .<hai\'  in  liriiiLiini:  others  to  the 
truth,  we  ina\  soon  exiK'et  to  .-f(j  a  laiLic  luxh"  ol'  l-'j-cucji 
Pnjtestants,  \v(jrshipiug  ( io<l  in  siiiccrit\  ami  in  truth. 

The  ^letliodist  Kj)isco|)al  chui'di  has  al  the  pi'esent  time 
lour  missionaries  at  work  in  New  i-jiL^iainl.  IJi'fore  this  is 
in  print  otlu-r  workers  will  no  doulM  he  added  to  this  foree. 

liev.  T.  A.  Dorion  is  statioiuMl  at  Manchester,  N.  .11. 
with  an  oruani/.iMl  cjuirch  and  Sahhath  school.  Kev.  A 
V.  Ijlouin  also  lahoi's  ni  New  Ilan!])shirc.  \U\  .  II.  1'^. 
Benoit  is  at  W()on>ockct  IJ.  I.  and  has  there  an  or::'anizcd 
church  and  Sabbath  Schocl.  lie  is  also  at  work  m  I'utnam 
Ct.  In  \\'f)i'eestei-,  .Mass.,  lu\  .  L.  N.  iJeaudry  has  an 
organized  ehureli  and  Siniday  schoid.  All  this  work  has 
been  orj^ani.ved  within  the  iiast  two  vears  and  is  in  a  vcrv 
eucouriiging  condition. 

yiv.  Dorion  })ublishes  monthly  '"  Le  Flddo  JfesAagcr." 
lie  also  has  undi-r  his  care  a  young  man,  Mr.  Smith,  who 
is  i)reparing  for  I'^rench  evangelistic  wcjrk  at  the  Methodist 
College  at  Tilton,  N.  II. 

JNIr.  Benoit  also  has  two  .■students  preparing  for  the  work, 
at  the  ^Methodist  Institute  of  Montreal. 

Rev.  ^Ir.  Beatulry  who  kindly  st'uds  us  these  details 
savs  :  "■  \Ve  are  contemplating  new  workers  and  new  Ileitis. 
We  cuusidi'r  the  lield  already  w  hite  for  the  hai'vcst." 

We  are  indel)ted  to  l»e\ .  d.  N.  Williams  of  Trovidence, 
li.  J.  for  the  foll(»wing  details  on  the  French  Baptist  work 
in  New  EnghuHl. 

Thirty-tive  year^  ago,  when  .Mr.  AVilliams  was  a  student 
at  the  (irande  liigne  ^Mission,  thei'e  was  a  llourishing 
FreiK'li  mission  at  Knosbui'v,  \'t.  C'hui-cdies  of  Canadian 
converts  had  been    established  at  Knosburv,    Montiidmerv, 


■ill 


m 


■'t... 


'I 


ii 


i 
t 


I  nil 


:i  ^  1 


lo2  Your  Ifi  ii(ai/e. 

r.iid  JJnrliiigfon.  At  Bniii(lf)ii  there  also  t'xisied  a  small 
French  CuTiadiau  (.'ou^n-e^atioTial  clmrch.  These  churches 
have  been  ahsor'ned  into  the  Ainericaii  cliiirches.  They 
Avotdd  never  have  existid  however,  had  it  not  l>een  for  the 
sjieeial  evangelistic  etlorts  of  French  Protestant  missiona- 
ries. 

The  French  Iiai)ti>t  woi-k  w  liieji  is  now  hein^x  carried  on 
in  New  Knirlaud  In-i-aii  in  1,S70  when  Rev.  X.  Cvr  was 
appointed  ,L'-eiici-al  ini.>sionaiT  hy  the  American  Uajjtist 
Home  Missionary  Societx  .  Duriii!.';  three  years  .Air.  C"vr 
labored  visitiiiira  Jar,u;-e  nund)cr  of  Freiich  Canadian  ceitres 
in  \'ermont,  iMassachusetts  especially  Fall  IJiver  Mass.,  and 
Uahic,  Conn.  Tlii'ee  colportenrs  aided  liim  in  his  work 
tor  a  short  time. 

Jii  :March  l-STo  Rev.  ,1.  N.  Williams  succeeded  ]Mr.  Cvr. 
For  two  years  .Air.  .1.  L.  l';iic:iaiide  labored  in  Lowell, 
]\lass,  .AlarHxji'o,  Mas>,  and  Nashua,  N.  11. 

Rev.  F.  X.  Smith  «if  (Grande  lA<^nv.  came  to  Fall  River, 
Mass,  and  tlirou-h  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ruck,  city  missionarv, 
■was  appointed  missionaiy,  dninu-  unidii  woi-k.  For  de- 
nominational reasons  Mi-.  Smith  pive  up  thi-  position  and 
was  conuuissioned  by  the  I)a|)list  Society  in  1874.  lie 
woi'ked  in  the  same  city  until  bS-sl. 

In  l<S/,>  Mv.  K.  Li-n-er  betran  work  in  Maine  under  the 
same  society,  and  after  some  lalxir  in  Le'viston  settled  in 
"Waterville,  where  a  Hourishing church  has  been  establislied. 
Othei-  woi-kers  have  been  Rev.  A.  L.  Then'eu  in  Bur- 
lingfon  Vt.  Rev.  d.  I).  Rossier  in  Montgomery  Vt.,  and 
Fnosburg,  Vt.  and  Worcester,  Mass. 

The  workers  now  in  the  Held  are  :      Rev.  J.  N.  Williams, 
general  missionary,  Rev.  G.   Aubin,    Worcester,   where   a 


new  cluni 


h  1 


la.- 


Just    been    dedicated  ;    Rev.    O.    Led; 


lire. 


Waterville,  jMe.  ;  Rev.  F,  L 


eger  llolyoke,  Mass.,  llev.  N. 


On  I-  Mrtluiih  of  Wiirfnrc.  153 

Aiibin,  Lowill,  Ma?».  ;   \\c\.   V.    X.  Smith,   "Woonsoeket, 
K.  I.  Kl'v.  Mr.  Cutu  ill  Marlboro,  ^Mu.ss. 

Mr.  lii'iioit  is  stationed  at  Webster,  Mass.,  and  Mr. 
Eobert  at  Hudson,  ]Mass. 

Mr.  Williams  states  that  he  has  visited  on  an  averasre 
once  a  month  some  twenty  ditl'erent  missionary  stations. 

It  may  be  added  that  there  are  several  ])resbyterian 
churches  in  the  West  doin;^  a  good  work,  anionj;  the  thou- 
sands of  French  speaking  people  there,  hut  very  little  i.s 
done  for  the  French,  comparatively  speaking,  by  that  rich 
and   influential    body. 

These  incomplete  statistics  will  go  to  show  tliat  already 
much  faithful  work  has  been  done  and  the  promises  for  fut- 
ure growth  are  bright. 

The  number  of  French  Protestants  in  New  England  has 
been  roughly  estimated  at  10,00U  and  in  the  whole  country 
at  40,0U0. 

The  problem  of  the  hill-town  churches,  is  causing  a  good 
deal  of  anxiety  to  missionary  boards  just  now.   Some  of  these 
churches  have  died  out  altogether  and  others   have    become 
weak  and  could  not  maintain  Gosjjel  oi-dinances,  were  it  not 
for  the  help  given  by  the  Home  Missionary  societies. 

The  reason  these  cliurches  have  become  so  weak  has 
been  given  :  the  old  Yankee  farmers  have  died  and  their 
children  have  gone  to  the  cities  or  have  purchased  farms 
in  the  West.  The  abandoned  farms  have  been  and  are 
being  taken  by  French  Canadians,  especially  in  Vermont 
and  New  Ham})shire. 

It  is  our  sure  conviction  that  the   American  churches  in 

these  localities  should  have  pastors  speaking   both  English 

and  French,  able  in  fact  to  preach  with  equal  facility  in  the 

two  languages. 

There  is  no  reason  why  well-educated    men,    could    not 


'il 


I     I 


. 


tlj 


^'1 

i]  Mi 


I'        t 


'     Ml 


1! 

i           i        ^ 

Jjlj' 

l')[  Your  Jlarifagc. 

give    full   satisfaction    to    both    nationalities.     They    could 
prea(;h  at  one  service  in  English  and  at  the  other  in  French. 

Orje  sabbath  school  would  answer,  and  if  need  be  one  or 
two  Frencii  classes  could  be  organized. 

By  pastoral  visiis  an  nu'stiniable  amount  of  good  coidd  be 
accomplished  among  those  Fn-ndi  farmers,  who  by  reason 
of  the  fact  that  tlu;y  are  away  Irom  the  Konian  Catholic 
church,  are  growing  u\)  in  indifference.  This  double  work 
is  being  done;  in  Canada  in  many  tields  with  very  good 
results.  The  writer  while  a  student,  had  the  charge  of  such 
a  mission  work  in  several  lields,  and  found  the  work  both 
pleasant  and  profitable. 

The  French  Protestant  College  of  Springfield  has  every 
facility  to  prepare  just  such  workers,  as  we  will  endeavor  to 
fchow  farther  on. 

"\Vc  sincerely  trust  that  there  will  l)e  a  change  of  policy 
on  tlie  part  of  the  Home  Missionary  Societies  of  Nev,'  Eng- 
land States.  Of  course  we  do  not  speak  of  tlie  Massachu- 
setts Society  Avhose  noble  work  is  worthy  of  imitation. 
The  jNIaine  Society  has  one  man  in  the  fitdd,  Isaac  Lafleur 
of  Saco,  ]\Ic.  a  former  student  (d' the  French  Protestant 
College,  and  of  whose  fidelity  we  are  proud. 

Apart  from  this,  wt  can  say  tlmt  the  existing  agencies 
are  leaving  this  problem  alone.  It  has  been  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  Mission  Boards  repeatedly  but  invaj'iably 
the  answer  has  come  in  one  or  other  of  these  forms : 
"There  is  lu)  call  for  such  a  work,  or  we  have  no  money  t© 
do  it." 

We  deem  these  excuses  altogether  insufficient,  in  view  of 
the  seriousness  of  the  problem,  and  of  its  bearing  on  the 
future  destinies  of  two  great  peoples  the  American  and 
the  French. 

In  the  first  place  we  do  d.  t  Wd'ii.  until  the  heathen   call 


( hir  Mithoila  of   Wiirlni 


'''. 


l.'yj 


y    coukl 

Fix'iich. 

one  or 

coiilcl  be 
'  reason 
Ciitliolic 
»le  work 
ry  g(K)(l 
ofsueh 
rk   both 

s   every 
eavor  to 

1'  i)olioy 
;\v  Ell"- 
vssachu- 
lilation. 
Lafleiir 
■otestant 


iigcncies 
It  to  tlie 
variably 
forms  : 
loney  to 


upon  US  to  savr  thciM  iVoin  tlu;  boinbiLie  ol'  lirallu-uisin,  to 
\in  to  tlu'iii  with  till'  i:-o>])i'l  ot'  lil)erty.  Ni'itlirr  should  wo 
wiiit  titiiil  tin- slaves  of  L'ltranioutanisni  eall  to  us  fm  de- 
livcraiKH'  to  u'(»  to  them  with  thi'  message:  '"liv  grace  arc 
ye  savi'd  through  I'aiih."  If  they  do  not  ask  for  the  lil)erty 
which  ('hrist  gives  his  jieople,  it  is  because  thi-y  ilo  not 
know  that  sucli  a  blessing  is  it;  store  for  them. 

As  for  the  luoiiry  it  will  l)c  giwu  if  only  the  needs  of  this 
[)eo])le  are  made  known  t  >  the  Christian^  of  New   Kngland. 

'I'lie  younger  mitii-iei's  in  the  church  are  fully  awake  to 
the  nrirent  nece,>siiv  oi  nndertakiim' an  ag'^rc^sive  i;am|)ai";n, 
in  the  nanu!  of  Christ  and  with  the  sword  of  (iod's  word 
and  Spirit,  against  the  powers  of  ritramoniauism.  If  the 
existing  agencies,  the  Trad  Society,  the  liible  Society,  and 
the  Iliniie  ^lissionary  Societies  cannot  so  modily  their 
nu'thods  as  to  be  able  to  (.-ope  with  the  problem  with  which 
the  closing  years  of  our  (HMitury  confront  us,  and  which 
CJod  bids  us  helj)  in  solving,  we  will  have  to  call  into  exis- 
tence a  new  organization,  that  will  do  this  ( Jod-imposed 
Avork. 

'I'liere  should  be,  there  is  no  need  ofaiiy  new  organizivtion. 
Those  that  exist  are  all-sutlicieiit,  but  let  tnem  take  a 
broader  view  ;  let  them  realize  what  a  missionary  held  New 
England  has  become,  and  liow  much  depends  on  what  is 
done  during  the  closing  decade  of  this  century. 


view  of 

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73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CHAPTER  IV. 


•'  1 


OTTR  MKTirODSOF  WAIJFAUK. I'lllLKATION  WORK. 

The  power  of  the  press  is  so  jfetierally  aumitted,  that  it  is 
ahogether  uiineeessary  to  pause,  even  but  for  aniciueut,  to 
giv6  fresh  ilhistrations  i)f  it.  In  the  eoiuinereial  world 
])riiiter's  ink  i)hiys  a  great  roll.  A  poliiical  j)arty  would  no 
more  think  of  undertaking  a  eanipaign  without  the  pi\'ssi 
than  an  army  would  think  of  engaging  in  a  battle  against 
a  powerful  Ibree  without  arms.  The  enterprising  business 
firms  do  not  hesitate  to  spend  large  sums  of  money  in  ad- 
vertisements in  the  j)';ess,  because  it  l)ays  to  do  so. 

The  evil  j)owers  of  the  world,  the  low  ;ind  di'grading 
theatri",  the  saloon,  the  licpior  merchants,  the  dealei's  in 
corruj)t  literature,  have  always  shown  more  wisdom  in  this 
direction  than  the  children  of  the  light.  If  this  statement 
be  not  true  generally,  it  certainly  is  true  as  it  ai)plies  to  the 
missionary  iiKnement  among  the  French  Konuin  Catholics 
of  America. 

It  is  nearly  sixty  years  since  this  much  needed  mission- 
ary campaign  was  inaugurated  in  Canada,   and  despite  all 


Our  Mdlioih  of  Wui'f((re.  157 

the  efforts  and  tlie  sacrifices  made  by  tlii'  leaders  of  French 
Protestantism  in  tiuit  country,  tlicy  have  not  been  al)le  to 
make  tiie  English  Protestant  public  understand  that  a 
French  daily,  well  edited,  by  a  staff  of  ai)le  christian  men, 
would  be  one  of  the  most  powerful  instruments,  for  the  ed- 
ucation and  enlightenment  of  the  French  Catholic  popula- 
tion that  could  be  used. 

Several  efforts  were  made  l)y  French  I'rotestants,  with  the 
vi(!\v  of  creating  at  least  one  good  French  Protestant  public- 
ation.     They  failed  for  want  of  fiiuinciid  support. 

Mr.  L.  K.  Ivivard,  the  founder  of  LWnnro^  the  only 
publication  that  has  UvimI,  subjected  himself  to  sacrifices  and 
hardships  of  which  the  world  will  iii'ver  have  the  faintest 
idea,  saci-itiees  which  miglit  well  put  to  shame  the  wealthy 
Protestants  of  Montreal.  It  was  witli  great  ''.illiculty  that 
his  weekly  papei'  ke[)t  alive  to  do  its  work  of  evangelization 
and  enlightenment. 

Several  times  attempts  were  made  to  increase  the  u<et'nl- 
ness  of  this  publication,  to  place  it  at  least  on  a  i)ar  with 
the  many  daily  papers  published  under  Iioman  Catholicuus- 
pices.      So  tar  these  attempts  havt'  proxcd   t'utile. 

UAiirnrc  goes  on  with  its  good  work,  ant'  l^'reiich  Protest- 
ants are  thankful  for  that.  (Jnce  a  week  it  gives  its  ligJit 
and  to  that  it  must  limit  itself.  It  has  not  seen  yet,  though 
ii    has  existed  twentv-fi\e  vears  the  dawn  ot'  a   bettei-  dav. 

It  is  sm'passingly  strangt;  that  tht;  Protestant  public  of 
Canada  should  have  ';"eii  so  slow  in  reco^ni/iug  the  jjower 
of  the  [»ress.  In  .Montreal,  among  our  French  Protestants 
there  are  many  eminent  writer:  ,  fully  canalde  of  •dvin"'  to 
the  French  reading  public,  a  paper  which  could  opi-ratc 
mightily  in  changing  publico])inion  on  ail  t hi' great  (luestions 
of  the  day.  If  >o  nun  h  has  been  done  thi-ougl.'  the  agency 
of  a  snuiU  weekly  paper,  it  is  very  easy  to   foresee   what  a 


\  'X 


'm 


W' 


i<:  vMm 


! 


l.^.S  Your  lf('ii((i</t'. 

powerful  influence  would  be  exf^rted  hy  an  organ  worthy  of 
the  ;j:reat  cau.se  which  we  champion. 

The  experiences  of  our  predecess.sors  should  he  of  some 
assistance  t(j  us.  If  we  are  wise  we  will  he  instructed  by 
them.  We  will  make  use  of  tliose  methods  of  work  which 
have  ])roduced  the  best  residts  and  by  perfecting  these  ob- 
tain results  still  more  satistactoi-v. 

The  leaders  of  French  IVotestantism  in  New  England 
had  not  carried  their  operations  very  far  beiore  they  felt  the 
need  of  a  j)aper  to  represent  their  views.  'J'liis  need  made 
itsell' felt  not  in  one  direction  only  but  in  very  nuiny. 

Ill  the  first  place  the  American  press  di<l  not  feel  called 
upon  to  take  the  advanced  position  on  liomanisni  which  the 
Soncur  Frain'o-Aiinficain  did  not  hesitate  to  take  from  the 
very  first.  'I'he  leaders  in  this  movement  had  strong  con- 
victions, based  ui)on  l«»ng  experience,  and  it  was  necessary 
that  they  shoid»l  have  perfect  freedom  in  expressing  them. 
This  they  could  not  do  save  in  an  organ  of  their  own. 

In  the  seccnid  j)lace  they  found  in  New  England  a  large 
number  of  French  Roman  ('atholic  papers,  pouring  out 
week  after  week  torrents  of  abuse  against  American  institu- 
tions aiul  against  everything  Frotestant.  These  pid)lica- 
tions,  for  the  most  jnirt,  had  not  the  slightest  regard  for  the 
most  ordiiniry  rides  ol  decency,  especially  when  French 
Protestaiits  were  concerned. 

Our  miidsters  and  missionaries  were  ranke<l  among  the 
clat:-^  of  thieves,  liars,  profligates  and  criminals.  The  pur- 
poses of  the  Christian  and  j)atriotic  movement  in  which  we 
are  engaged,  were  wholly  misrepresented,  and  there  was  no 
M''ay  of  refuting  these  slanderous  attacks. 

It  ^vas  felt  that  a  French  paper  capable  of  haiulling  these 
questions  in  a  fair  and  Christian  manner,  had  become  a 
necessity.     The   people  were  deceived  and  misguided  on 


Our  Jlct/tuds  ('/'  W'di/'iiri'.  1 ')9 

some  of  the  most  important  (lucstioiis  aireotiiii^  the  French 
and  American  peoples,  and  the  residts  of  of  .such  a  J(»iinia- 
lism  as  that  we  lia\  c  alhided  to,  woukl  he  exceedin<rly  (hui- 
gcrous.  P^or  these  and  other  reasons  to  be  s^iven  hiter  on, 
the  missionaries  of  the  Con;.'regational  church,  workin;^ 
under  the  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society,  made 
boUl  to  found  in  1S87  Lr  S>  iii'iir  Fninco-^inirricttiu. 

In  the  full  of  l.S.S(),  Revs.  .1.  Provost,  T.  G.  A.  C6te,  J. 
Alhird,  C.  G.  ^lousHcau,  C.  E.  Amaron  and  ii  may  ])e  one 
or  two  others  whose  names  escape  our  memory,  met  on  th(^ 
steamer  wliich  pHcs  hetween  Providence  and  Fall  Kiver, 
and  there  took  the  lii'st  steps  for  the  establishment  of  a 
French  Protestant  weekly  paper. 

Several  meetings  wiM-e  subsequently  held,  and  as  may 
well  be  imagined,  the  dilliculty  of  putting  such  a  scheme  on 
foot,  by  a  body  of  under-[)aid  and  over- worked  missionaries, 
was  not  a  j;mall  one. 

Kev.  T.  A.  Dorion,  then  of  Sherbrooke,  Que.  was  pub- 
lishing at  that  time  a  small  paper.  He  was  invited  to 
asj-ume  ihe  charge  of  the  French  mission  in  Ware,  bring 
with  him  his  press  and  printing  material  and  become  man- 
ager of  the  new  i)aper. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Boston,  Kevs.  T.  G.  A.  CAte.  J. 
Provost  and  T.  A.  Dorion  formed  themselves  into  a 
Society  called  the  French  Publi<iiing  Society. 

Uev.  J.  Provost  was  appointed  to  be  editor  and  Rev.  '!'• 
G.  A.  CAte  treasurer. 

A  few  weeks  later  Rev.  C.  K.  Amaron,  who  had  liad 
charge  of  the  F^nglish  department  practically  from  the 
beginning  joined  the  society  and  became  English  editor. 

For  eight  months  />'•  Stnufur  was  published  in  Ware, 
Mass.  At  the  end  of  that  time  it  was  found  that  the  un- 
dertaking was  financially  embarrassed  and  could  not  con- 


I 


100 


Your  Jlf.ritar/' 


I 


W  : 


'I 


tinuc,  Mr.  Dorion  \vitli(lr(;\v  from  tlic  society.  Rev.  C. 
E.  Amiiron  was  iii)iM)iiitcil  in{uia;j:er  and  tlic  paper  was 
moved  to  the  I'^reiieh  Trotestant  College,  then  of  Lowell, 
Muss. 

We  well  remember  the  day  wIkmi  the  old  pn^ss  made  its 
appearance  at  our  door.  Charles  Dorion,  son  of  the  former 
inana<rer,  a  student  at  the  college,  a  hoy  ol' fifteen,  was  the 
only  one  who  knew  anything  about  printing.  Teachers 
nd  students  took  their  coats  oil,  rolled  their  sleeves,  con- 
verteil  the  dark  cellar  into  a  printing  (»Hice  and  after  much 
toil  sui'cei^ded  in  putting  all  the  j)ieces  logether. 

How  these  young  men  were  taught  to  set  type,  make  up 
the  forms,  run  the  pi'ess  ;  how  the  work  was  comjjleted 
<'M(li  day,  each  week,  without  foi'i-nian,  when  tlie  students 
wi're  at  their  studies  and  recitations  :  how  the  paper  Avas 
sent  out  week  after  week  lor  aliout  two  years,  constitutes 
one  of  those  j)ages  (jf  history  which  men  cannot  write.  It 
is  sullicient  thai  it  is  written  in  (IimI's  book. 

Let  it  sullice  te  say  tiiat  lor  about  two  years  the  Scnuur 
was  j)ubll.die(l  in  these  circumstances,  and  taken  out  of 
finaneial  diHiculty,  The  help  given  by  some  devoted 
Christian  women,  siiould  here  be  acknowledged.  INIy 
heart  aches  us  1  look  l»ack  and  see  them,  al'tcr  a  hard  day's 
work  sit  down  to  write  week  ufter  week,  these  hundreds  of 
addresses,  this  tedious,  monotonous  work,  and  ull  this  for 
love's  suke.  Days  of  heroic  sacrifice  und  consecration  to 
God  und  the  extension  of  his  kingdom  are  not  all  of  the 
past. 

In  the  fall  of  1889  the  three  men  who  had  borne  the 
responsibility  of  this  enterprise,  felt  that  it  was  impossible 
for  them  to  do  justice  to  their  regular  missionary,  church 
and  CoUege  work,  und  at  the  same  time  edit      manage  and 


^ 


Our  Ml  (hods  of   Warfare. 


101 


mcur 
)Ut    of 

My 

(lay's 
(Is' of 
is  for 
ion  to 
)f  the 

ic  the 

)ssible 

hurch 

e  and 


print  a  weekly  paper,  wurtliy  of  the  jjreat  cause  we  have 
at  heart. 

It  was  afrreed  to  form  a  new  society,  on  a  broader  basis, 
of  whidi  any  person  eouhl  become  a  member,  on  signing 
tlie  constitution.  The  French  Kvanjiehcal  Publishiii"  so- 
ciety  was  called  into  existence  and  duly  incorporated 
according  to  the  laws  of  Massachusetts  in  the  spring  of 
18.SD. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  First  Church  of  Springfield, 
Mass.  shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  Society,  the 
ofliccrs  and  members  explained  the  aims  and  purposes  they 
had  in  view,  and  the  results  they  had  reason  to  expect,  i*^ 
they  cduld  succeed  in  carrying  their  plans  into  operation. 
A  goodly  mnnber  of  inlluential  ministers  and  laymen  were 
present  and  endorsed  in  a  strong  resolution,  the  enterprise. 

A  little  Inter  on,  a  nu'eting  of  the  same  character  was 
held  at  Memorial  Hall  Hartford,   when  a  similar  endorse- 


ment was  given. 


The  o})inion  was  expressed  by  some,  that  it  would  be 
desirable  to  conmiit  the  work  contemplated,  which  we  shall 
speak  of,  to  the  Congregational  Siujday-School  and  Pub- 
lishing Society.  Several  objections  suggested  themselves 
and  among  others  this  one,namelythat  the  enterprise  would 
be  looked  upon  as  denomiiuitional,  and  thus  would  not 
be  participated  in   by  other  churches  as  is  desirable. 

The  Sunday  School  and  Publishing  Society,  instead  of 
assuming  the  whole  responsibility  agreed  to  make  a  grant, 
following  in  this  the  example  of  the  INlassacluisetts  Home 
Mi^iiunary  Society.  These  two  organizations  after  look- 
ing carefully  into  the  merits  of  this  French  publishing 
work,  have  concluded  that  its  importance  cannot  be  over- 
stated, and  that  judiciously    managed,  it  will  help  most 


K'.-i 


Yonr  ITcritaijc 


I 


m 


V:   ;  i 


powfi'tully,  ill  solving  one  phase  of  the  perplexinj^  probloni 
of  foreign  immigration  in  New  Enghmd  and  tlie  whole 
country. 

The  French  Evangelical  Publishing  So(Mc;ty  is,  at  the 
moment  we  write,  constituted  as  Ibllows.  It  is  composed 
of  a  number  of  French  pastors  and  missionaries  and  a  few 
American  business  men.  Its  ollicers  are:  llcv.  J.  Provost 
of  Spriiiglield,  Mass.  president  ;  Uev.  P.  N.  Cayer  ofWare, 
Mass.  clerk  ;  Halph  W.  Ellis  Es(i.  treasiu'er.  Tiie  direc- 
tors are,  J.  Prjvcjst,  T.  G.  A.  C6te,  I.  P.  Bruneau,  J.  H. 
Paradis,  C.  E.  Amaron. 

The  society  contemplates  a  two-fold  work,  a  work  much 
needed  and  not  done  by  any  existing  agency. 

Thi'  lii'st  object  it  has  in  view  an<l  is  accomplishing  in  the 
midst  nf  gr<!at  dilliculties  and  struggles  for  want  ot  funds, 
is  the  pulilication  of  a  Christian  })aper,  partly  Frencli  and 
partly  English. 

Every  week  the  society  prints  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  Le 
Cili)i/i-u  Fraiico-Ainvriniin,  a  neat  sixteen  page  paper, 
eontaining  about  lour  pages  of  English.  Tiie  object  of  this 
English  department  is  to  discuss  fully  the  Roman  Catholic 
quesli(jn,  in  a  calm,  dispassionate  and  Christian  spirit  ;  to 
communicate  inlonuation  concerning  all  the  French  Mis- 
sions of  New  England  and  the  country,  in  order  to  create 
an  intelligent  interest  in  this  most  important  missionary  en- 
terprise. 

Le  Citoyot,  is  a  continuation  of  Ze  Scmcur  of  which  we 
have  spoken.  About  1800  copies  are  issued  each  week, 
but  had  we  the  funds,  10,000  copies  would  be  sent  out 
among  the  French  of  this  country,  and  would  be  read  by 
them.  We  cannot  begin  to  measure  the  good  done  by  this 
silent  weekly  visitor.     It  could  be  made  to  do  the  work  of 


Our  Mv.thuds  of  Warfare 


1G3 


much 


bs.,   Le 


liioh  wc 
week, 

lent  out 

[ead  by 
by  this 

kvork  of 


a  tliou.sund  missionaries  and  supplement  the  noble  etlbrts  of 
those  now  at  work. 

The  paper  is  now  edited  by  Rev.  .J.  A.  Deroiue  ;  its 
manager  T.  G.  A.  C6ie  and  its  financial  a^^'iit  Hev.  Marc 
Ami.  It  is  snppi»rted  by  tlie  grants  alxne-uuMitioned,  by  a 
certain  number  of  j)aid  subscriptions  and  advertisements. 
These  sources  of  income  do  not  however  nu'et  the  expenses 
and  contril»ntions  are  solicited  to  enable  the  enterprise  to 
sustain  itself. 

The  mission  of  such  a  paj)or  is  manifold. 

In  the  first  place  it  is  a  representative  of  tlie  Freneh 
Evangtdistic  movement  in  New  Knghind  and  stands  pretty 
nuich  alone,  being  the  only  weekly.  As  such  it  lias  nuich 
to  do. 

In  the  second  place,  it  acts  as  a  family  paper  among  our 
converts.  It  docs  for  these  families,  what  the  ri'ligions 
weekly  does  ia  American  homes.  In  fact  it  accomplishes 
more,  becaus(!  in  the  nuijority  of  cases  it  is  the  only  pa{)er 
received. 

Our  French  Protestant  churches  require  instruction  on  a 
great  many  questions  ;  they  need  edification  as  all  Protes- 
tants do.  It  need  not  be  sjiid  that  a  weekly  of  the  proper 
kind  can  accomplish  very  much  in  this  direction. 

In  the  third  place,  our  pai)er  goes  as  a  weekly  messenger, 
in  outlying  districts  in  New  England,  in  New  York,  but 
chiefly  in  the  West,  to  the  scattered  French  Protestant 
families,  and  the  number  of  them  is  nuich  larger  than  we 
think,  and  acts  as  a  missionary,  the  only  one  these  lonely 
settlers  ever  see  in  their  homes.  It  helps  to  keep  burning 
in  them  the  sacred  fiame  of  relisiion,  and  it  keeps  them  in- 
forniGd  on  the  great  questions  of  the  day. 

In  the  fourth  place  this  paper  has  become  an   imperative 


f! 


101 


Your  IhriUtrje. 


necessity,  in  view  of  tlie  attitude  ol'the  French  ultrumontune 
pre?>s  toward  our  converts  and  the  niovL-iueut  they  cahmpioii 
as  well  as  tcnvard  American  institutions. 

Before  we  liad  a  French  Prcjtestant  press,  capable  of  an- 
swering the  unwarrantable  attacks  of  the  clerical  papers, 
the  arrogance  and  insolence  of  the  latter  knew  no  bounds. 
For  years  these  sheets  had  been  abusing  and  reviling  all 
that  Protestant  Americans  hold  sacred.  The  masses  were 
made  to  believe  almost  anything  about  Protestantism  and 
the  institutions  it  has  given  rise  to  and  upholds. 

These  papers  felt  free  to  pour  out  their  abuse,  assured 
that  they  were  not  read  by  the  American  press  and  therefore 
ran  no  risk  of  being  checked. 

Our  paper  has,  from  time  to  time,  reproduced  some  of 
their  articles.  We  have  given  to  the  American  public,  the 
leading  features  of  their  pi-ogramme.  It  may  not  be  consi- 
dered egotistical  for  us  to  say  that  the  positions  now  taken 
by  almost  all  «)ur  American  weeklies,  on  the  public  school 
question  and  others  akin  to  it,  were  taken  four  years  ago  by 
Le  Semcnr. 

The  French  Roman  Catholic  press  is  now  conpelled  to  be 
a  iiitle  more  careful  in  its  utterances.  French  readers  have 
an  opi)ortunity  ot  seeing  both  sides  of  the  question  and  we 
have  abundant  proof  that  many  have  been  led  to  cihange 
their  views  and  fall  in  line  with  what  this  nation  deems  to 
be  essential  to  right  citizenship,  by  reading  Lc  Senicur^ 
Le  Cituyt'n  and  Lc  Fidclc  Jlessaycr,  a  monthly  published 
by  Rev.  T.  A.  Dorion  of  Manchester,  N.  li. 

We  might  dwell  at  great  length  on  this  point,  but  enough 
has  been  said  to  show  how  great  a  mission  is  intrusted  to 
the  French  I'rotestant  press  of  New  England.  It  should 
not  be  prevented  from  doing  its  work  for  lack  of  funds. 


Onr  Jldhods  of    \Vai'/\in'. 


ir,.-) 


all 


Tlu*  pntrioii.sni  ot'tliese  Puritan  states  is  sun-ly  jjfruat  enough 
to  estal'lisli  such  an  institutiitn  on  a  lirni  hasis. 

Wi!  niay  a(hl  that  our  pjiprr  now  reaches  a  j^'reat  uuiuy 
families  that  are  not  vet  strotij;  enou'^h  to  uuike  hold  to 
enter  our  cluircheH.  A  papii-  can  bo  read  hehind  ilu-  »loor, 
iiobodv  need  kno'v  anvthin;;  about  it.  Thus  can  a  <'reat 
work  of  eidighteninent  be  quietly  done,  in  luuuberless  cases 
iiuiccessiblo  to  the  missionary. 

The;  French  l'ublishin;jsociety  has  another  work  in  view. 
We  live  at  the  close  (jf  the  nineteenth  centurv  an<l  moreover 
in  the  United  States  of  Anii'rica.  Our  times  have  create<l 
a  state  of  society  very  diti'erent  from  that  of  the  France  and 
Switzerland  ot  to-(hiy  and  especially  of  fifty  years  a<;o.  And 
yet  almost  all  the  tracts  and  i)amphlets  furnished  us  for  dis- 
trii>ution  amonir  the  French,  come  from  FurojX!  and  are 
hoary  with  a^e. 

The  writers  of  these  exci'lU'tit  tracts  knew  nothiii";  of  the 
problems  we  an-  called  upon  to  face  and  solve.  We  need 
a  totally  new  liierMtni'e.  adajited  to  the  condition  of  tilings 
in  which  the  French  masses  live. 

In  the  first  place  a  series  <jf  tracts  and  pamphh^ts  should 
be  writttMi,  settinir  forth  the  advantage's  offered  the  I'l-ench 
Canadians  of  New  Knirland  and  the  I'liited  States,  by  the 
new  state  of  thin>''s  in  which  thev  find  tlu-mselves  as  soon 
as  thev  cross  the  lines.  It  is  lu'cessarv  to  show  them,  in 
clear  but  ejiivfnl  terms.  mU  the  harm  which  the  old  province- 
of-(^uebec  re;.''ime  has  done  to  the  French  portion  of  Cana- 
da. Furthermore  these  tracts  should  point  out  clearly  that 
by  followiuL'  the  lead  of  the  clergy  in  their  opjiosition  to  the 
progress  of  our  American  Christian  civilization,  they  are 
preparing  for  the  Canadian  nationality  an  ignominious  and 
humiliatiiiir  defeat.      If 'the  French  race  desires  to  make  its 


■?? 


ir.O  Your  ILritaf/e 

infliRMico  felt,  it  must  siloiicc  tliis  so  coiled  patriotic  cry: 
*' Our  tniii^ui',  our  luitionjility,  our  religion."  This  cry  is 
uiiii-|)aniotic  to  the  core.  This  nation  is  tlestiiiu<l  to  be 
I*i-(itesiiint  Amtrieaii,  witii  MiiLrlish  as  tiie  prevailing  lan- 
gujigf,  and  he  is  unwise  who  tries  to  prevent  the  unilication 
of  races. 

No  American  possessing  common  sense  asks  an  educated 
French  Canadian  to  forget  his  classical  tongue  and  refrain 
from  speaking  it  when  he  has  occasion  to  Jo  so.  A  mat) 
Avlio  knows  two  languages  has  UK^re  ideas  than  he  who  has 
knowli'dge  ot"one  only. 

What  the  AmeriL'jins  desire  is  tliat  all  should  learn  Eng- 
lish and  that  there  should  he  no  barriers  between  those  who 
come  from  oilier  lands  and  ihe  peoj)le  of  this  country. 

Tract>  of  a  religious  (duiracter  are  also  needed.  Tem- 
peiMiici'  literature,  p-nnphlets  discussing  the  (jucstion  of 
odu''iitio;i,  ol"  morality,  (jf  S(jcial  purity  and  other  subject^ 
upon  which  light  is  needed. 

Am  imnmnse  work  is  before  us,  and  there  arc  men  ready 
and  willing  to  use  their  \)cn,  for  the  good  of  their  ■•ountry- 
men,  of  the  land  of  their  adoption  and  of  their  God.  But 
they  are  simply  wearing  he  best  of  their  lives  out  to  lay 
loundations,  a  good  work  to  be  sure,  but  wiiy  waste  so 
much  tin\e,  why  let  the  diseases  which  are  gnawing  at  the 
vitals  of  society  take  such  deep  root,  before  attacking  them 
seriou>ly  ? 

We  feel  assni-eil  that  if  the  thinking  j)ublic  would  take 
the  tinn'  to  reflect  over  these  prol>lenis,  and  look  into  the 
methods  ])rop->st'(l  for  their  solution,  the  funds  needed  would 
be  placed  in  the  hands  of  responsible  and  reliable  persons 
foi-  the  speedy  carrying  out  of  the  plans  proposed. 

It  has  JKHni  a  (jucstion  with  me  for  some  time  whether  we 
liave  not  too  m  uiy  orga:iizations?     Would  it  not  be  pos- 


Our  3fil/i(>fh  nf  \\'(ti/<trc. 


k;: 


who 


sil)lo  to  nccnmplisli  tin;  work  coiiti'inplutiMl  by  the  French 
I'libli.shitij;  Society  without  i^pemliii;^  s«»  much  money  on 
adniinistriition  ?  It  may  be  that  Ikcfore  this  in  in  print, 
some  phin  may  h<'  suj^gcsted  that  will  meet  with  ^fcneral  ap- 
proval and  enable  un  to  accomplish  a  work  vhicli  now 
remains  undone  I'or  want  of  I'unds. 

Note.  Since  tiie  ai)ove  was  written,  the  chan;j:es  hinted 
at  have  taken  place.  The  French  Kvan;.'elical  I'ublishni'jr 
Society  has  amal;^amated  with  the  corjxjration  ol'the  French 
Protestant  CollcL'e.  The  coUej^e  has  assumed  the  whole 
responsibility  ot'this  pnbh'ciition  work  and  become  the  pro- 
prietor of  Li-  Ciloijiii  Fiditco'^liiicriniin. 

The  advantages  to  be  derived  from  this  impf)rtant  <le- 
cision  on  the  part  of  the  two  corporations  are  many.  Two 
or  three  may  be  stated. 

1.  The  cost  of  administration  will  be  greatly  reduced. 
When  the  press,  i'ur  which  about  half  the  amount  reqnircil 
is  paid  in,  has  been  purchased,  the  exj)enses  will  be  «5till 
further  reduced. 

2.  In  the  constituency  which  has  been  a])i)ealed  to  for 
funds,  both  for  the  College  and  the  paper,  for  the  last  year, 
there  have  been  no  less  than  four  or  five  persons  soliciting 
aid.  The  giving  [)nblic  has  become  somewhat  bewildeied. 
With  the  new  arrangements  there  is  but  one  corporation 
asking  for  funds  througli  one  financial  agent.  Thus  can 
there  be  an  intelligent  presentation  (jf  the  whole  work  in  its 
various  departments,  and  a  great  deal  of  money  spent 
necessarily  for  travelling  and  in  the  administration  of  two 
different  concerns,  is  saved. 

3.  The  typographical  work  is  now  almost  wholly  done 
by  the  students.  Many  of  them  are  leai'ning  .m,  good  trade 
and  at  the  same  time,  helping  to  pay  their  own  way.  The 
development  of  character  is  helped  and  better  and  stronger 


.ill 


in 


108  Your  Heritage. 

inon  arc  formed  who  will  be  of  help  in  years  that  are  coming. 
The  French  Protestant  College  lias  assumed  this  addi- 
tional branch  of  work  in  good  faith,  believing  that  the 
Christian  men  and  women  of  this  country,  would  place  at 
their  disj)osal  the  funds  required  to  push  forward,  this  two- 
fold educational  work. 


CHAPTER  V 


OrU  METHODS  OF  M'AHl. AKM:.— KDUCATIONAL  WORK. 

Tl.o  mission  ofthe  Christian  Coll.'ge  i.s  rrenerallv  unaor- 
stood  by  the-  people  of  this  country.  The  founders  of  tliis 
nation  recognized  from  the  very  first  that  Christian  e.hica- 
tion  is  one  of  tlie  llrst  recpiisites  in  the  huildin-  up  of  a  new 
nation.  The  history  of  the  rise  aiid  growth  of  coUe-iate 
education  in  this  country  is  one  of  absorbing  interest. 

It  was  tlie  most  natural  thing  in  the  world,  for  the  lead- 
ers in  the  French  Evangelistic  movement,  to  devise  plans  to 
furnish  a  good,  a  higher  education  to  as  many  young  men 
and  women  as  they  could  reach,  and  thus  create  a  b.^ly  of 
loaders,  not  noly  well  educated  but  e.lucated  on  proper  lines, 
and  thus  capable  of  leading  their  countrymen  in  the  right 
direction. 

That  such  a  movement  should  at  first  have  met  with  op- 
position from  Americans,  wouhl  be  absolutely  inexplicable, 
were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  our  purposes  were  not  imder- 
stood  by  them.  We  may  say  more.  .Alany  thought  that 
our  aim  was  to  educate  tiie   French   in  such   a  way  as  to 


1(1  K 
'li  I? 


'  ^» 

1  It 
■■'■i. 

Jl 

rlW^c 


!! 


•mi 


E3i    .' 


HhlJ 


1  7"  Your  Heritage. 

make  it  almost  impo.ssiblo  fuv  them  to  fall  in  with  our 
Ainerieaii  modes  oi"  tliouj^lit.  As  soon  as  we  were  able  to 
convince  those  we  appealed  to,  that  what  we  wanted  was  a 
Protestant  American  College  tor  the  French  of  this  country, 
not  only  did  all  opposition  cease,  but  generous  co-operution 


was  given. 


THE  FUKNCII   l'U(JTESTANT    COLLEGE. 


SECTION  I. — ITS  iiisTOi;y. — It  is  not  easy  to  write  history, 
especially  it"  one  is  conciTiied,  i;i  a  perfectly  fair  and  im- 
pariial  maimer,  or  in  a  way  that  shall  aj)pear  impartial  to 
all.  Accurate  information  is  not  easily  obtained,  because 
nnich  of  what  men  would  otfer  as  history  has  no  other 
authority  save  their  own  memory,  and  we  all  know  that 
memory  does  not  serve  us  as  well  as  might  be  desired. 

In  the  few  lines  which  are  to  follow,  if  we  fail  to  do  jus- 
tice to  any  one,  it  will  iKjt  be  intentionally. 

So  far  as  we  know,  the  idea  of  a  French  Protestant  Col- 
lege, for  the  French  Canadians  of  the  Tnited  States,  had 
not  been  conceived  bv  iinv  one  before  the  year  188.J,  the 
writer  not  excluded. 

Diu'ing  the  winter  of  188;],  I  was  invited  by  Rev.  T.  G. 
A.  Cote  to  come  to  Lowell,  Mass.  to  take  the  pastorate  of 
the  French  Church  there.  Mr.  C6te  had  been  appointed 
General  missionary  of  the  IMassachusctts  Home  Missionary 
Society  and  a  pastor  was  re(piired  for  the  position  lett  va- 
c.mt.  It  was  also  stated  that  tlie  question  of  establishing  a 
school  to  prepare  French  missionaries  had  been  sj)oken  of 
and  that  in  all  likelihood  some  such  theological  school  would 
be  in  time  formed  and  that  the  writer  would  become  the 
head  of  it. 

1  have  endeavored,  these  few  past  months,  to  obtain  in- 
formation  as  to  what  was  done  prior  to  May   1884,   in  this 


Our  Mdhods  of  Warfare.  171 

direction.  I  liavo  written  to  Dr.  Harrows  ot'Saii  Friinsisco, 
al  tiiat  time  j)astor  in  Lowell,  hut  have  laiU'd  to  (.'licit  any 
facts  from  him.  I  sou;^ht  intormation  from  tin-  then  scribe 
ot  the  Andover  Association,  with  similar  results. 

]Mr.  Cute  states  that  the  matter  was  hrouiiht  up  hy  him 
at  one  of  the  meetin;,'s  ot  the  Andover  Associati-in  hidd  in 
Lawrence,  Mass.  and  that  a  vole  favorable  to  the  j)roject  ot 
trainini;  young  men  lor  Ciiristian  service  was  passed. 

So  lar  as  I  ha\e  been  able  to  ascertain,  this  is  all  that 
was  done  before  l.S.Sl,  The  <pu'stio!t  of  eslablisiiinj^  a 
CoUeji'e  had  never  been  miMitinncd  to  mt',  and  althouuh  1 
had  a  'oroadcr  idea  than  tiiat  suii'ircsted  at  La\vren:'i,',  Mass. 
v>hen  I  came  to  Lmvcll.  it  had  not  vi.'t  developed  into  the 
much  l)roader  plan  ol  a  thor(»u,L;hly  eijuipijed  college  lor 
young  men  and  women. 

It  i>  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  Christian  public  of 
Lowell  and  of  the  vicinity,  was  »till  less  prepared  for  the 
[jroject  than  we  were.  \\'!iale\er  may  !:ave  l)een  done  be- 
t'ore  l-S-Sl,  it  would  i)e  unhisiorical  to  say  that  any  impres- 
sion had  been  maile  upon  the  public.  When  even  the 
smallei"  conception  ot  the  plan  was  >poken  of,  it  met  with  no 
response  but  with  much  ttpposiiion.  The  foundations  were 
yet  to  be  laid. 

Rev.  d.  'Si.  (Jreene,  j).  I),  ])astor  of  I'^Uot  Church  Lo- 
wt'll,  writes  as  follows,   l.HJi  ditiniary,   IS'.II. 

"I  ni'Xir  heard  ilie  college  mentioned  by  Dr.  Bari'ows 
or  any  one  else  till  you  came  to  Lowtdl  and  talked  it  uj).  It 
may  have  bi'en  mentioned  as  a  thing  to  be  desired  even  be- 
fore you  came  to  Low(dl,  l)ut  it  tocdi  no  form  as  a  work  to 
be  done  until  you  took  hold  ot'  it.      So  I  under-taml  it." 

The  foundation  of  a  great  enterprise  can  be  claimed  by 
no  individual  man.  Some  one  man  generally  takes  the 
lead  and  bends  all  his  energies  on  the  enterprise.     He  leads 


I 


;!! 


'•MJ 


I 


172  Your  ILrifarjc. 

he  ('iili.st5s  others,  lie  does  a  thonsaud  things  of  wlu'eh  no- 
body knows  aiivthiiiir.  Uut  forallthat,  lie  does  not  achieve 
anytliiiiL'  ah)ne.  If  he  lias  any  sense  at  all,  he  does  not 
claim  to  have  been,  in  an  exclusive  sense,  the  founder,  even 
of  a  work  whicli  had  no  existence  when  in;  entered  up- 
on it.  when  he  undertook  it  as  his  lite  work.  It  may  be 
true'  that  (jrod  used  him  as  th(^  jjriucipal  instrument,  it  may 
even  l)e  true  that  without  him  this  special  wurk  woidd  not 
bi'  in  the  condition  in  which  it  is,  l)ul  liis  jud;,niient  will  lead 
him  to  say  that  without  the  help,  co-dpi-i'ation  and  support 
oi'many  others,  he  would  have  Ix-en  unable  (o  do  anyiliini^. 

It' however,  somebody  feels  ealle(l  upon  to  assume  the 
name  of  founder  (I  am  sure.  I  ne\ei'  iiavi;  thouirht  of  this 
persoiiallv ) ,  it'  the  readinir  and  thiiiki:.i_''  i)ublic  desire  to 
atti'iliute  to  one  more  than  to  another,  the  layiuL'' <»f  fbunda- 
tio!is,  that  public  will  not  be  pi'e\ente(l  from  selecting;  the 
|>erson,  whoi'ver  he  or  she  may  be,  who  has  fmiLihr  liy  jien 
and  ton_irue  the  real  battles,  who  has  stood  at  the  helm  when 
I'rierids  and  foes  jn*edicted  failui'e.  who  at  the  mouient  ol  the 
^"■reatest  sti'ain,  when  the  warmest  friends  said  :  "■  I^et  .iro, 
yield,"  did  not  let  lto.  <lid  not  yield,  who  I'inally,  with 
(lod's  hel{),  was  instrumental  in  making  the  undertaking 
possible. 

In  connection  with  the  foundation  of  the  French  Protes- 
tant College,  it  becomes  us  to  be  silent.  The  public  of 
Lowell  and  oi' other  cities  of  Massachusetts*  h'.is  formed  its 
impressions  from  direct  observation. 

One  reason  for  saying  even  this  much  is,  that  we  cannot 
allow  to  pass  mmoticed  and  unchallenged,  certain  uncalled 
for,  unjust  and  wholly  misleading  criticisms  recently  made, 
from  which  otic  would  infer  that  certain  claims  to  founda- 
tionshii)  have  been  made  by  us.  There  has  been  nothinjr 
of  the  kind  and  such  insinuations  are  only  worthy  of  the 


Our  Mdho(h  of  War/drc.  17J3 

anonymous  writers,  wlio  i'l  this  unniiinly  and  cowurdly 
manner  throw  thi-ni  out. 

Another  roa>t)n  ('ouii)i'ls  us  to  write  tliese  lines,  namely 
p,  >«cnse  of  justice.  Tlu'  articles  to  which  we  allude  wiiuld 
feijrn  lead  us  to  Ixdieve  thai  practically  tlie  Collei/e  was 
founded  Ixdore  ISS,')  ipiil  that  the  criMlit  ot' it  is  due  to  two 
or  three  men  whose  names  are  lm'viii. 

We  have  been  behind  the  scenes  from  bej^innin'^  to  end 
and  we  claim  to  knon-  as  luu-li  as  anyone.  This  much  we 
feel  in  duty  bound  to  say.  Had  it  imt  been  for  the  self- 
sacrificin.*^  spirit,  devotion,  moral  couraLre  in  face  of])livsi- 
cal  weakness,  womanly  hi'roisui  ol'otie  younji^  Wiuuan  at  a 
period  in  the  history  of  this  enti'i'pi'isi',  when  the  balance 
hud  to  go  one  way  or  the  other,  all  hope.-  of  success  would 
have  been  dashed  to  the  grcnind,  we  do  not  say  tor  evi-r, 
but  "vvo  do  say  without  fear  of  contradiction,  for  years  to 
come. 

We  have  said  ol'  one  woman,  but  we  should  have  said 
and  iKjw  say,  of  aiiothc:  woman  of  faith  and  consecration, 
whose  patient,  modest,  constant  ministry  ol' love  amonir  the 
French  Canadians  of  Massacl"isetts,  has  l)een  singularly 
underrated. 

The  woi'k  these  Christian  women  have  done,  with  their 
own  weaiied  hands  and  aching  limbs,  month  after  month, 
Avithout  a  cent  of  I'emuneralicn,  ( iod  alone  has  ever  seen 
and  known.  Without  induenee,  with  public  ojiinion 
against  us,  with  the  Protestant  clergy  conscientiously  set 
against  the  movement,  without  the  money  to  do  the  work 
and  show  the  results  which  alone  could  convince  the  public 
of  the  advisability  of  such  a  missionary  project,  how  could 
it  have  succeeded  had  not  these  devoted  wonuni,  cooked  and 
washed,  and  ironed  and  mended,  and  taught ;  and  after 
washing  as  best  they  could  their  soiled  and  bruised   hands, 


n 


'\ 


\|     >: 


r  '^*i 


'•t, 


171  lo.<;'  JL'riUi'je 

hud  ihoy  not  prosented  tliein.selves  bisforo  mission  boards  to 
plead  out  of  consecrated  hearts,  for  the  boys  and  young  men 
they  desired  to  save  ? 

If  to  anyone  is  .'o  l)e  given  the  honor  of  laying  the  found- 
ation of  this  Christian  educational  enterprise,  let  the  modest 
workers  wiio  did  tlie  digging,  who  lifted  the  heavy  stones 
Avith  tli'Mr  lumds,  who  soiled  their  fingers  with  the  mortar, 
who  mingled  their  tears  with  the  water  that  slaked  the  lime 
let  them  have  the  honor  due  them,  and  let  them  have  it 
with  all  the  more  readiness  that  they  do  not  ask  for  it. 

For  my  part,  even  hail  1  but  a  lumi»ish,  leaden  thing  in 
place  of  a  heart,  I  could  not  but  cheei'fully  and  unres(u*ved- 
]y  let  the  honor  go  there.  It'  I  have  written  with  some  feel- 
ing, it  is  because  I  have  felt  that  an  injustice  had  been 
done. 

The  establishment  of  the  French  Protestant  College  is  due 
to  the  utitiring  eth)rts  ul' a  few  person  who  from  the  very 
first  understood  its  pm-poses,  and  to  the  co-operation  of 
the  Lovvell  Congregational  ministers,  ol  a  number  of  Christ- 
ian women  in  that  city  and  the  generous  sui)port  of  the 
press. 

The  institution  owes  its  beginnings  to  tin  Massachusetts 
Home  Missionary  Society,  wlii'-h  made  a  grant  ofS''3,00(J 
to  eiuible  the  promoters  of  this  educational  enterprise  to 
make  a  start,  aeet)iuplish  some  work  which  would  serve 
the  same  purpose  as  the  miil-priius  in  the  hands  and  feet 
of  the  risen  Christ,  namely  remove  doubt   and  produce  the 


conviction  ihat  this  venture  was  not  a  wild  f 


uicy. 


In  the  fall  of  IS.SI  alter  my  installation  as  pastor  of  the 


French  Protestant  church  of  Lowell,  Mas? 


T.» 


ev.  T.  G.  A. 


COte,  my  predecessor,  who  had  worked  for  seven  years  in  the 
midst  of  great  discom'agementsand  had  prepared  the  ground, 
discussed  with   me  on  several  occasions  the  question  of  the 


Oil  I'  Jl'tiii'ds  lit    I'  >i.fiii' 


17.> 


extonsion  of  this  French  i'vaii;:.i'li.stif  woi-k.  IJoth  were  fully 
sutisiicd  that  no  geniiiiit',  I'adiciil  aixl  Listing  work  could  ho 
ticconiplishcil,  utiles^  our  youni;  men  and  youn;;^  wi>nu'n 
could  he  given  an  education  otlu-r  liian  that  receivt.'d  hy 
them  in  French  Roman  C'atiiolic  parochial  schools. 

^^'c  did  not  aim  as  high  tiien  as  we  now  do.  Our  chief 
aim,  u.s  far  as  my  memory  serves  me,  was  to  prepare  future 
missionaricis.  Fartlier  on  we  will  state  what  the  college 
now  contemplates  in  addition  to  this  si)ecial  work. 

Mr.  Cote  and  myself  were  then  the  only  mis.>ionaries  of 
the  Massachussetts  Socii'ty.  lioth  began  to  plead  for  the 
establishment  of  what  we  calle(l  a  I'nMn'h  Protestant  board- 
ing school,  with  pastors  and  with  the  Mis.-«ionary  society, 
but  without  very  mudi  success  at  Iii'>t. 

On  the  0th  of  April  iSSTj  at  a  meeting  of  the  Andover 
Association,  I  was  allowed  to  piH'sent  my  plan.  It  met 
with  a  good  deal  of  opposition  on  the  ground  that  such  a 
step  would  lead  to  the  establishment  oi  a  system  of  sej)arate 
schools  for  the  P^rcnch  Canadian  nationality,  which  would 
have  the  tendency  of  isolating  tlie  French,  {)reventiug  them 
from  learm'ng  the  English  language  and  from  uniting  with 
the  people  of  tliis  country  to  furm  (»ne  great  nation. 

We  succeeded  in  conviiuMng  the  majority  of  the  members 
present,  that  such  uei'e  not  our  aims.  It  was  one  central 
institution,  having  as  one  ot  its  i'eatures  the  systematic  teach- 
injT  of  the  Bible,  the  teaching  of  the  I-'iiL^dish  language  and 
the  inculcation  of  Protestant,  republican  ideas,  that  we 
desired  to  create.  'I'he  purpose  was  to  take  the  young  peo- 
ple out  of  the  old  ruts  and  c<Mmteract  the  baneful  influences 
of  the  ultramontane  princij)les  inculcated  1)y  the  clergy  of 
New  England. 

The  Association  approved  the  scheme  and  recommended 
it  to  the  churches  of  the  Andover  Conference. 


■.Ml 


17»; 


i  uar  Jit  i'il(i'/c. 


On  the  7tl>  of  April,  tlie  writer  presented  liis  plan  before 
tlie  executive  eommitteo  of  the  Mussaehusetts  Home  Miss- 
ionary Society.  Some  impression  was  made  but  no  definite 
action  was  taken. 

On  ilie  2''Sth  of  tlie  same  month  the  Andover  Conference 
met  at  Lawrence,  and  by  what  men  call  a  mistake,  but 
fchould  be  (.'ailed  a  design  of  Providence,  the  scribe  of  the 
Association  referred  the  recommendation  of  the  latter  body 
to  the  C<jnference.  A  storm  of  opposition  arose  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  not  a  legitimate  subject  for  the  Confer- 
ence to  consider. 

One  ol  tlie  delegates  knowing  I  had  in  my  ])ocket  a  paper 
which  wa.s  to  appear  in  the  next  issiu;  of  the  Coniir<(jn((iiiia- 
//.■>/,  suggested  that  1  might  lu'  invited  to  riuid  it.  I  was 
called  to  the  platfoi'm.  When  I  .-tood  uj),  objections  were 
raised.  A  iiKjtion  to  lay  the  whole  mailer  on  the  table  was 
made  and  sec()nded.  When  the  vote  was  taken  it  was 
tound  to  l)e  a  tie.  Ivev.  Smith  IJaker  was  moderator,  and 
J  can  still  hear  his  dee])  voice  uttering  with  a  decision 
Asliieh  ri'vived  mv  coui'aire  :  '"1  vote  that  the  matter  be 
not  hiid  on  l  he  table." 

1  then  read  the  })aper  alluded  to,  and  it  was  voted  that 
for  want  o(  authoritv  the  wliole  subject  with  the  recommen- 
dation  of  the  Association  be  referred  to  the  individual  chur- 
ches of  the  CVnifereiice. 

On  the  IC.th  .May  I  sent  to  the  Massachusetts  Home 
^Missionary  Society  as  strong  an  ajipeal  as  1  could  write, 
asking  for  a  grant  of  $;)000  to  begin  work  in  the  fall.  Ou 
the  -stli  , I  line  I  appeared  again  before  the  Committee  and 
explaine(l  at  more  length  our  plans.  JNIany  prayers  went  up 
to  God  liH  I  waited  in  the  passage  of  the  Congregational 
House  for  the  decision  of  the  Committee.      God    directed 


Our  Ml  thuds    i>f    Wiirfiiiv. 


177 


ISIOU 

be 


ome 
•rite, 
Ou 
and 
nt  up 
ioiial 
ected 


them  to  vote  that  a  grant  of  S3000  be  made,  82000  to  be 
paid  the  first  year  and  SlOOO  the  following. 

I  went  back  to  Lowell  with  a  thankful  heart,  an<l  the 
work  of  or<ranization  began.  On  .lulv  dih  a  number  of 
gentlemen,  chietly  Congregational  ministers,  met  in  the 
olHce  of  ^lessrs.  Marshall  and  Ilamblett  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  College.  Committees  were  appointed  to  prepare 
by-laws.  The  aet  of  incorporation  was  obtained  from  the 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  on  the  1. St h  day  of  Sep- 
tember I'SS").  The  charter  members  are:  Rev.  Owen 
Street,  I).  1).,  Kcv.  J.  M.  Greene  1).  I).,  Kev.  Charles  A. 
Dickinson,  Kev.  C.  II.  Wilicox,  Rev.  Sinitli  Uakcr,  Kcv. 
Calvin  ?i.  Amaroii  and  Rev.  Ili'iny  T.  Rose,  then  all 
pastors  of  LowoU  clnnThes.  The  name  given  to  the  cor- 
poration was,  Tiie  French  I'rotestant  College,  created  '^tor 
the  purpose  ot  giving  instruction  to  both  young  men  and 
young  women  in  such  branches  of  education  as  are  usually 
tauglit  in  our  New  Kngland  schools  and  C(dleges,  with 
reference  to  training  stui'ents  to  become  ellicient  teachers, 
missionaries  and  preachers  of  the  Protestant  faith." 

A  board  of  trustees  was  appointed  and  various  commit- 
tees were  given  i)ower  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements 
U)  begin  tlie  work.  A  house  was  rented,  it  was  furnished 
with  the  bare  necessaries  ;  a  miml)er  of  ladies  under  the  di- 
rection  of  the  late  Mrs.  Battles  of  Kirk  Street  Church, 
helped  in  providing  bedding  and  other  intlispensable  articles 
and  on  the  27th  October  the  c(dlege  was  formally  opened  by 
appropriate  exercises  held  in  the  Freiich  I'rotestant  Church 
and  in  which  the  different  denominations  of  the  city  were 
represented  by  their  pastors. 

The  first  year  was  one  of  struggle,  hardship  and  discour- 
agement.    AVe  were  rowing  against  the  adverse  current  of 


I: 


i 


1'i 


1  T-S  FrHO'  Hiritnfjc. 

})ul)lic  si'iitinicnt.  If  we  did  not  Hucceed  in  showing  good 
results  we  would  not  be  sustaincMl.  Tlie  six  teachers  who 
hiul  11  hand  in  the  work  oi'that  tlrst  year  received  in  the 
aggri'giite  a  sum  ()f'S32().  This  means  that  nearly  all  of  them 
worked  for  love's  sake.  We  were  able  lu  close  that  year 
with  a  balance  of  SlOOO,  but  it  was  at  the  cost  of  too  umch 
health  and  strength  on  tlu;  part  of  some. 

The  work  continued  in  Lowell  the  following  year,  when 
I  was  asked  by  the  trustees  to  resign  the  pastorate  of  the 
French  Pr(jtestant  Church,  to  devote  my  whole  time  to  this 
educational  work. 

In  the  summer  of  IH.ST,  Uev.  Owen  Street,  1).  I),  who 
had  become  a  warm  and  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the 
College,  and  who  had  given  instruction  in  Greek  to  the 
sttidents,  was  called  to  his  eternal  rest.  He  had  left  the 
sum  of  81000  for  some  religious  work,  and  in  view  of  the 
special  interest  he  had  manilested  in  this  educational  move- 
ment, his  son-in-law  and  daughter  Rev.  and  Mrs.  G.  S. 
Dickerman  oU'cred  to  give  the  SIOOO  toward  the  erectioTi of 
a  building,  provided  the  sum  of  ^15,000  should  be  pledged 
Avithin  a  certain  time*  The  trustees  at  once  agreed  to  name 
this  proposed  building  the  Owen  Street  Hall.  The  greater 
part  of  Dr.  Street's  library  was  also  to  be  given  to  the  college. 

In  vii  V  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  Dr.  Street  had  been 
held  for  thirty  years  in  Lowell  and  in  the  Andover  confe- 
rence, it  was  fully  expected  that  the  Christian  public  would 
cheerfully  respond. 

Kev.  ,] .  M.  Greene  D.  D.,  the  first  president  of  the 
college  corporation  and  one  who  with  voice  and  pen  has 
pleaded  and  still  pleads  on  behalf  of  this  work,  urged  the 
matter  strongly  as  did  also  Rev.  Smith  Baker,  Rev.  C.  A. 
Dickinson  and  others. 

When  it  was  found  that  the  largest  individual  contribu- 


fli     ^^    HtI    '    '■ 


•rood 


edired 


confe- 
would 


C.  A. 


ntribu- 


Our  Mvlhods  of  Wai'fnie.  179 

tioii  that  could  be  securod  f'roiu  the  miMnhcrs  of  ni;;li  street 
church  and  t'ntm  Lo'vell  waw  SlOO,  our  courage  tailed  us. 
We  were  thf  metre  discourau'ed  that  the  colie^^e  had  now 
proved  its  ntisnn  (V<trr  audi  hat  tlie  Amlover  conference 
had  passed  by  a  unanimous  vote  the   (oiiowing  resolution  : 

''That  to  the  churche.-t  and  Sabl)ath  scjiools,  to  tiie  friends 
of  education  and  relii,non,  and  to  <ill  who  dcsirt;  tluj  preser- 
vation of  Protestantism  in  New  Kn^fland,  we  comnieinl  the 
Frencli  I'rotestant  CoUe^ro,  estal)lished  in  Lowell,  as  an  in- 
stitution widl  deserving  their  prayers,  benevolent  contribu- 
tiinis,  benefactions  and  energies." 

At  tiiis  juncture  a  proposal  was  made  to  remove  the 
college  to  Sj)ringlield  Mass.  Several  considerations  were 
urged. 

S|)ringlield  was  a  better  educational  centre  ;  the  college 
would  be  in  close  proximity  to  the  School  for  Christian 
Workers  and  the  School  (»f  Trades  ;  these  institutions  would 
be  nnitually  helpful.  The  largest  contributions  came  from 
Springfield  and  nmch  help  coidd  be  expected  from  the  whole 
of  the  Connecticut  Valley.  Moreover  a  lot  worth  81000 
was  offered  the  institutioi:. 

The  pro{)osal  was  carefully  considered,  arguments  for 
and  against  were  weighed  and  it  was  finally  decided  to 
select  Springfield  as  the  permanent  location  for  the  college. 

In  October  1)S88  we  came  to  Springlield.  It  was  our 
intention  to  occupy  the  building  whicii  had  been  the  City 
Hospital,  but  as  it  could  not  be  vacated  till  spring,  we  rent- 
ed a  house  on  Wilbraham  Road,  filled  it  to  its  uttermost 
capacity  and  tin*ned  away  the  rest  of  the  applicants  who 
sought  admission. 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  City  Hospital  property  on 
Boston  Road  was  purchased  as  well  as  another  large  lot 
now  held  for  the  college,  a  tract  of  land  covering  about  four 


-j  i-- 


n 


Ml 


i 


180  Your  Hrritage. 

acres,  bordering  on  three  streets,  and  the  biiildin;;^  of  Owen 
Street  Hall  was  at  once  l)egun. 

On  the  IDth  October  188!)  the  new  building  was  opened 
by  arproj)riate  exercises,  in  which  several  loading  education- 
alists of  New  England  took  part  in  person  or  by  letter. 

In  the  mouth  of  INIay  181)0,  the  legislature  of  this,  state 

amended  the  charter  of  tlie  college,  making  Springfield  the 

location  instead  oi'  Lowell,  and  giving  the  institution  the 

following  powers  : 

The  said  College  is  hereby  authorized  to  grant  such 
honorary  testimonials  and  confi^r  such  honors,  degrees  and 
diplomas  as  are  granted  or  conferred  by  any  university, 
college  or  seminary  of  learning  in  this  Commonwealth  ;  and 
the  dij)lomas  so  granted  shall  entitle  the  j)ossessors  to  the 
immunitios  and  privileges  allowed  by  usage  or  statute  to  the 
possessors  of  like  diplomas  from  any  university,  college  nr 
seminary  of  learning  in  this  Commonwealth  ;  provided,  that 
no  such  honors,  degrees  or  diplomas  shall  be  conferred  «':x- 
cept  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  trustees  of  said  corpora- 
tion. 

This  in  brief,  with  many  necessary  and  voluntary  omis- 
sions, is  the  history  of  our  young  institution. 

SECTION  II. ITS  CHIEF  AIMS  AND    PUUPOSES. 

The  brief  historical  sketch  which  precedes  sets  forth  a 
few  of  the  ditficulties  and  obstacles  we  had  to  encounter 
and  remove  before  we  (!ould  begin  to  carry  into  efToct  the 
})lan  we  had  in  mind. 

We  all  would  have  abandoned  the  undertaking  had  we 
not  been  fully  convinced  that  it  was  of  God,  and  had  we 
not  been  satisfied  that  the  indifference  or  opposition  arose 
from  a  want  of  information  on  the  problem  of  J'rench  Ro- 
man Catholic  immigration  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  a 
misconception  on  the  other  of  the  aims  and  purposes  which 
the  promoters  of  this  educational  enterprise  had  set  before 
them. 


Our  Methods  of  War/are.  181 

One  of  the  most  discouraging  feature's  has  been,  the  un- 
willingness ofProtestant  ministers  to  open  their  churches  to 
French  Proteslanr  ministers  speaking  Knglisli,  that  they 
might  give  the  peopK",  always  glad  to  hear  it,  the  message 
which  bunirf  their  heart.  If  we  had  in  our  possession  the 
collection  of  letters  written,  which  have  renuiined  unanswer- 
ed, they  would  form  a  good-sized  volume.  We  are  thank- 
ful to  say  that  a  decided  change  has  taken  place  in  this 
respect  and  that  the  leading  pidjdts  of  the  country  are  now 
open  to  those  who  are  able  togivi;  an  intidligent  presentation 
of  this  evangelistic  movemeiit  as  several  are  doini;. 

1.  Amcriean  Cltiz'-nshtj). — The  first  great  purpose  of  the 
French  Protestant  College  is  to  give  to  the  French  Canadi- 
an population  of  New  Fngland  of  the  United  States,  an 
education  such   as   will  lit  thein  for  citizenship. 

It  is  necessary  to  state  this  at  the  outset.  The  name 
French  Protestant  College  has  been  a  block  of  stumbling 
and  u  rock  of  olfense  to  numy.  It  is  imagined  that  in  an 
institution  bearing  that  name,  the  French  language  must 
predominate,  French  modi-s  of  thought  nuist  prevail.  It  is 
feared  that  the  young  men  and  young  women  who  will  be 
jrraduated,  nmst  know  little  or  notiiing  of  American  life 
and  will  ntH  fall  in  with  the  civilization  whicli  this  nation 
believes  in,  as  opposed  to  that  of  French  Canada. 

We  have  already  stated  that  those  who  reason  thus  and 
entertain  such  fears,  do  not  understand  our  Avork,  are  not 
acquainted  with  our  methods  of  education  and  know  nothing 
of  the  results  they  produce. 

The  promoters  of  the  French  parochial  school  system 
and  the  friends  and  supporters  of  our  college,  liave  formed 
a  totally  different  conception  of  the  educational  problem 
among  the  French  of  the  United  States. 

The  abetttors  of  the  parochial  school  are  the  enemies  of 


132 


Your  Heritage. 


"i( 


the  niiiriciitioii  of  races  in  tliis  repuljlie.  The  Roman  Ca- 
t}iolics  tear  tlie  public  scliool  because  it  does  not  mamifac- 
ture  Koman  Catholics.  A  special  machine  is  needed  for 
that  purpose.  In  the  case  of  the  French  Roman  Catholics 
it  is  still  more  necessary  to  isolate  the  children,  to  keep 
them  from  all  that  is  American  and  Protestant,  else  they 
cannot  be  made  j^^ood  French  ultramo.itanes. 

We  hold  views  wholly  opposed  to  these.  We  are  not 
blinded  to  sutdi  an  exteiit  by  our  national  alliuities  and  pre- 
ferences, as  to  support  measures  which  history  has  proved 
to  !)('  most  injurious  to  the  people  ol' the  country  from  wdiich 
we  come  and  which  we  love.  Our  theory  is  that  a  French- 
man who  ('hoses  to  make  of  (iernumv  his  home,  should 
learn  (iernian  and  adapt  himself  to  ihe  customs  of  the  coun- 
try ot  his  adoption,  that  an  American  who  iiuikes  of 
France  his  home  should  adopt  himselt  to  tiie  mode  of  life  of 
liiat  new  home. 

In  like  manner,  the  French  Canadians  who  lind  it  neces- 
sary or  convenient  to  select  this  country  as  their  permanent 
abode,  siiould  not  expect  that  the  government  of  this  coun- 
try shall  encoura^^e  them  to  create  here  a  little  France  or 
Canada,  governing  itself  according  to  the  laws  and  customg 
of  French  Canada. 

French  Protestants  have  no  desire  for  any  such  thing. 
They  take  pride,  as  well  they  might,  in  their  beautiful 
tongue  and  have  no  desire  to  forget  it.  They  wish  to  study  it  and 
become  acquainted  with  its  rich  literature.  What  sane 
man  would  think  of  objecting  to  this?  But  they  are  as 
anxious  to  learn,  as  thoroughly  as  they  can,  the  English 
tongue  anil  its  literature,  and  thus  walk  side  by  side  with  the 
educated  men  and  women  of  this  republic.  We  understand 
perfectly  well  that  this  is  the  wise  and  rational  course  to 


Our  Methods   of    Warfan 


\A'^ 


pursue  and  tluit  it  \a  prouiptcd  by  lui  eulighteued  uud  com- 
mon sense  patriotism. 

Tlie  coui'sc  of  instruction  given  in  our  college  is  ol'  such 
a  character  as  to  make  thorough-going,  Christian  American 
citizens.  Tiiis  means  tluitthe  Protestant  Christian  idea,  is 
kept  prominently  in  view. 

Whatever  we  may  think  concerning  tlie  secularization  of 
education,  in  reference  to  Protestant  children  and  young 
jieople,  we  are  satislied  that  the  hundreds  of  French  Cana- 
dian young  men  of  this  country,  wlio  ha\"e  lust  faith  in 
llonuuiism,  and  who  not  knowing  any  other  religion,  have 
fallen  into  a  state  of  semi-skepticism,  will  never  be  lilted 
oiU  of  that  state  of  mind,  and  made  I'eliable  Christian  citi- 
zens, through  a  purely  secular  education. 

The  college  that  would  ci-eate  a  class  of  reliable  men  and 
women,  to  act  as  leaders  among  the  French  Canadians  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  must  l»e  not  only  iriendly  to 
Christianity  but  nuist  give  a  systenuitic  course  ot  instruc- 
tion in  the  leading  truths  of  the  llible. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  by  far  the  largest  lunnber 
of  studi'uts  who  come  to  us  for  instruction,  have  been  in 
peculiar  circumstances,  have  received  an  education  which 
has  IkkI  the  tendency  of  nutking  them  either  superstitious 
or  indiil'erent,  if  not  altogether  ske|)tical. 

Thev  need  an  ecbu-ation  that  takes  into  consiileration, 
not  only  their  intelh'ctual  but  also  their  religious  wants. 
Some  of  tliese  boys  and  young  men  who  are  supposed  to 
have  been  thoroughly  instructed  religiously  bv  the  Komish 
church,  have  not  the  I'aintest  conception  of\Nhat  experimen- 
tal religion  is. 

Others  have  but  one  article  in  their  creed  :  ''1  hate  Rome 
— and  Pome  and  religion  are  synonymous    lor  them,   they 


Il 


'^  i 


I  ' 


U  f: 


1<S4  yo?<r  TTerttar/e. 

knowviiothing  else — that  luif*  trampled  under  foot  my  cons- 

eieiiee  and  my  intelligence." 

What  kind  of  education  do  these  young  men  need?  If 
they  are  not  tf)  become  total  wrecks  religiousiy  and  moral- 
ly, they  must  he  dealt  with  carefully  and  lovingly,  and  the 
distinction  between  Romanism  which  they  hate,  and  true 
religion,  must  be  cK'arly  pointed  out.  This  we  do  from  a 
Biblical  and  historical  stand-point.  As  a  rule,  the  results 
arc  gratifviii;:.  Ib-iijlit  and  intelli<icnt  young  men  arc 
snatcluMl  fi'om  tlic  brink  of  the  precipice  and  saved  for  God 
and  country.  ^\  c  liave  already  some  such,  doing  mission, 
ary  woi'k  among  their  cf)untrymen. 

We  make  our  course  of  religious  instruction  sufficiently 
broad,  that  young  men  of  all  evangelical  churches  can  fol- 
low it.  We  scarcely  know  to  what  denomination  the  young 
men  belong.  At  present,  we  purpose  giving  enough  theo- 
logy to  ena])le  a  young  man  having  missioiuiry  work  in 
view,  to  enter  the  second  year  in  a  th(;ological  seminary  of 
his  choice,  when  he  graduates  in  arts  with  us.  Thus  we 
will  be  able  to  furnish  French  workers  to  the  various  chur- 
ches. 

Exj)erience  has  proved  over  and  over  again,  tluit  the 
sooner  these  young  peo])le  can  be  removed  from  the  perni- 
cious inlluences  of  Romish  teachings,  the  l)etter  for  them 
and  for  the  Frencli  Protestant  churcli.  It  is  no  easy  mat- 
tei"  for  one  vlio  has  grown  to  years  of  maturity  under  the 
infiuetice  of  the  conscience-destroying  instructions  of  Roma- 
nism, to  free  oneself  from  tiieir  baneful  I'csults. 

The  i)riests  of  Rome  deny  that  their  church  allows  them 
to  inculcate  wnnig  views  (»f  truth.  When  we  charge  tlie 
Jesuit  order  with  holding  the  principle  that  "  The  end  jus- 
tifies the  means,"  it  is  denied  by  them.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  know  by  sad  and   repeated   experience,   that  the  boys 


Our  JIdhods  of  Warfare.  185 

who  come  to  us  from  tht-ir  purocliijil  schools,  do  not  seem 
to  know  what  it  is  to  tell  the  truth.  When  we  upbraid 
them  for  uttering  a  lie,  they  are  astonished  and  amazed 
that  we  should  make  so  mueh  of  what  to  them  seems  so 
little.      "A  little  lie  is  nothin"." 

Much  tlu'ii  nuist  be  undone  before  any  good  work  can 
be  accomplished.  There  is  a  whole  process  of  education 
rerpiired,  and  nuich  patience,  forebearance  and  faith  arc 
demanded.  Too  often  when  you  think  you  have  reached 
the  bottom  and  laid  your  foundation-stone  on  solid  'n'ound 
after  building  with  the  assurance  of  stability,  you  discover 
that  you  have  built  upon  the  remains  of  the  old  false 
system. 

2.  To  sHjijih'inoit  (J/uirr/i  irork. 

The  college  serves  a  second  piu'j)ose  partly  indicated  in 
what  precedes.  Its  mission  is  to  supplenu'ut  the  work 
done  in  our  mission  churdies.  Our  pastors  might  be  as 
faithful  as  the  j)ropliet  Klijah,  thi-y  might  work  Tiight  and 
day,  that  they  would  fail  to  do  much  of  that  necessary 
educational  work  entrusted  to  us,  and  without  which  their 
pulpit  and  pastoral  work  nuist  br  moj-e    or   fess   ineffective. 

In  the  spiritual  work  of  the  church  our  Frencdi  pas- 
tors received  comparatively  little  help  from  the  people  to 
whom  thtjy  nu'nistm'. 

In  thr  church  of  Kome  the  laynuin  is  taught  to  open  his 
ears  and  close  his  mouth.  The  priests  are  the  church  prac- 
tically, whatever  may  be  the  tlieoretical  idea.  The  people 
are  not  taught  to  judge  of  the  truth  for  themselves  ami  com- 
municate to  their  brethren  the  im[)ressions  which  come  to 
them. 

When  a  man  comes  out  of  the  darkness  of  Romanism, 
even  if  he  have  received  Christ  fully  into  his  heart,  he  finds 
it  very  hard  to  speak  on  spiritual  things,  he  finds  it  hard  to 


"     -■     1  I 

II 

.11,  |1 


rli 


I 


,'i 


8  flu 

m 


I 


■M, 


!.*■"         ■'■■It 

1;  ^'  ill 


186  lo^o-  Jl'-ruarjc. 

pray    with    liis    lamily    and  much    more    so  in  the  church. 

Moreover  he  is  a  babe  in  the  faith,  he  must  be  a  learner 
for  years  before  he  can  instruct  his  chikh'en  as  lie  ought 
and  desires.  The  resuk  is  that  the  chikh'en  are  deprived 
of  the  Christian  training  found  in  tliose  homes  that  have 
always  liad  the  liiblo.  A  further  result  is  that  these  young 
people  grow  up  more  or  less  careless  and  do  not  become 
true  Christians.      Our  clunches  remain  spiritiuilly  weak. 

It  must  also  be  remembered  that  the  lartrest  numljer  of 
our  converts  belong  to  the  middle  class.  In  nuiny  cases 
both  father  and  mother  are  at  work  all  day.  There  is  very 
little  time  for  education  of  any  kind  in  the  home,  and  it  is 
natural  enough  that  the  religious  training  should  be  the 
last  to  be  attended  to. 

Again,  very  nuaiy  of  the  young  men  and  young  women 
we  invite  to  our  large  cities,  nre  exposed  to  all  the  temp- 
tations which  great  cities  otl'ei*  Romanism  has  made  them, 
or  at  any  rate  left  them,  indilferent  to  personal  religion. 
Left  to  themselves  thev  are  sure  to  ^o  to  wreck  and  ruin. 

IIow  siuill  these  young  peo})le  be  saved  and  educated  to 
become  leaders  in  our  French  Protestant  cluirches,  infusing 
a  new  Christian  life  in  them,  a  spirit  of  liberality  for  all 
good  works,  the  spirit  of  missionary  enterprise  Avhich  alone 
can  create  a  living  church?  IIow  shall  we  get  godly  men  to 
act  as  deacons,  leaders  and  helpers  in  the  prayer  meeting? 
How  shall  we  get  consecrated  young  men  and  young  women 
to  teach  intelligeritly  the  children  and  and  young  people  of 
our  converts  ?  Teachers  w  ho  are  to  do  effective  work  in  so 
hard  a  field,  need  to  be  especially  qualified. 

The  French  pastors  and  workers  have  all  felt  that  with- 
out the  help  which  the  French  Protestant  College  purposes 
to  raise  up  for  them,  the  results  of  their  efforts  must  neces- 
sarily be  but  meagre. 


Our  Methods  of  Warfare.  187 

Our  Collei^e  thou  has  a  Christian  uducaUuinil  work  to  do, 
which  neither  the  home  nor  tlie  mission  church  is  able  to 
do  just  now.  AVe  have  to  solve  the  same  problem  as  that 
which  presents  itself  in  the  lields  in  which  the  American 
Board  and  the  American  Missionary  Association  labor. 

We  have  old  Ibunduticjus  to  dig  up,  false  ideas  to  uproot 
on  almost  every  important  subject,  and  new  foundations  to 
lay. 

Take  such  questions  as  those  of  truthfulness,  family 
worsliip,  temperance,  the  sanctitication  of  the  sabl)ath  day 
and  many  others.  It  requires  a  very  long  time  to  correct 
the  wrong  views  the  church  of  Rome  has  presented  to  the 
people  among  Avhicii  we  labor.  Neither  one  nor  twenty 
sermons  will  succeed  in  taknig  men  and  women  out  of  the 
old  ruts. 

The  Frencii  Protestant  College  takes  the  boys  and  girls 
in  its  preparatory  department,  young  men  and  yuung  women 
in  its  collegiate  department,  and  oilers  them  a  course  of 
instruction  that  keeps  in  sight  the  pecidiar  circumstances  in 
which  these  young  people  have  been  situated  and  the  im- 
portant roll  which  they  will  be  called  to  play,  in  the  mould- 
ing of  the  French  Canadian  jiopulutiun  ot  the  United  States 
and  of  Canada,  either  as  professional  men  and  women,  or 
as  ordinary  members  of  society. 

It  would  seem  superfluous  to  say  more  to  convince  the 
reader  that  such  an  institution  is  imperatively  demanded 
and  makes  a  very  strong  ap[)eal  to  the  liberality  and  patrio- 
tism of  Americans,  be  they  Christians  or  not. 

3.  Preparation  of  Missionaries. 

The  College  has  a  third  purpose  in  view,  namely  the  pre- 
paration of  young  men  and  young  women  for  distinctively 
missionary  work.  We  do  not  claim  to  be  a  theological 
seminary,  and  it  is  not  designed  that  all  our  students  nor 


t'!l 


k  tl 


188 


Your  Heritage 


perhaps  the  majority  of  them,  shall  become  pastors,  evan- 
gelists or  missionaries.  It  is  our  hope  and  prayer  that 
all  will  become  educated  Christians  ;  but  only  tiiose  who 
have  both  intellectual  and  spiritual  gifts  and  adaptability  for 
missionary  work,  will  be  encouraged  in  this  direction. 

There  has  been  and  there  is  now  a  dearth  of  properly 
qualilied  and  thoroughly  consecrated  men  for  the  many 
missionary  fields,  ripe  for  the  harvest.  The  Canadian 
church  has  furnished  us  many  excellent  men,  but  it  has  a 
large  and  dillieult  Held  to  cultivate  in  Canada  and  tiie  men 
prepared  by  tlic  Presbyterian  College,  Montreal,  cannot 
very  well  be  spared. 

There  is  no  reason  why  the  various  denominations  which 
are  doing  French  evangelistic  work  in  this  country,  should 
not  look  to  this  college  lor  the  young  men  who  are  to  be  the 
French  speakmg  pastors  of  the  future.  The  course  of  stu- 
dies is  in  the   formative  period   and   it  is   the    interition   to 

make  it  evangelical  before  everything  else. 

We  have  stated  elsewhere  that  there  is  just  now  a  very 
pressing  call  for  a  special  class  o(  lay-workers,  both  men 
and  women,  to  do  house-to-house  work.  It  is  the  purpose 
of  our  college  to  train  such  workers.  The  time  is  passing 
away  when  the  church  thought  it  had  done  its  duty  by  erect- 
ing a  church  edifice  and  saying  to  lost  men  :  "Come  in  and 
hear  the  Gospel.  If  you  dont  want  to  come  in,  so  much 
the  worse  for  you.      Our  duty  and  responsibility  end  here." 

We  are  beginning  to  understand  that  our  duty  is  to  save 
men.  If  they  will  not  come  to  the  source  of  life  because 
they  do  not  know  that  they  are  dead,  because  they  are  lost, 
it  is  our's  to  go  to  them  Avith  the  message  of  life  and  light. 

It  is  our  firm  conviction  that  we  are  spending  a  great 
deal  of  money  which  bears  but  scanty  fruits.     The  French 


Our  Methods  of  Warfare. 


189 


1-0  ct- 

aiul 

lllK'll 

ere." 
save 

cause 
lost, 
ght. 

great 


Caiiadians  will  not  be  converted  to  Christ  unless  we  can 
send  into  their  homes  consecrated  men  and  women  who 
will  read  the  Bible  to  rhem,  show  them  sympathy,  interest 
themselves  in  their  cliildren,  invite  them  to  tlie  church  and 
Sunday  school.  To  be  sure  our  PVench  pastors  do  this  in 
a  measure,  but  they  have  many  other  duties  to  attend  to, 
they  have  their  pulpit  work  and  their  own  pastoral  work, 
and  they  can  do  but  comparaiively  little  in  the  direction  we 
have  indicated. 

We  do  not  see  any  very  good  reason  why  this  college 
should  not  broaden  its  sphere  oi"  usefulness  by  opening  its 
doors  to  Italian  young  men  and  prepare  them  for  mission- 
ary work  among  their  countrymen.  The  urgent  necessity 
of  evangelizing  the  thousands  of  Italians  who  have  come  to 
this  republic  has  been  made  manifesi  to  all  lovers  of  native 
land.  This  people  has  been  under  the  same  religious  intlu- 
ences  as  the  French  Canadians,  and  those  who  are  to  work 
among  them  need  very  much  the  same  kind  of  training. 

Our  institution,  in  connection  with  the  School  for  Christ- 
ian Workers  of  Springlield,  Mass.,  will  also  help  in  prepar- 
ing secretaries  for  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 
There  is  a  great  deal  of  good  work  to  be  done  among  the 
French  speaking  young  men  of  this  country,  through  the 
associations.  But  workers  cannot  do  effective  work,  unless 
they  are  conversant  with  French  as  well  as  English. 

We  have  been  already  appealed  to  for  general  secretaries 
for  French  branches  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tions, and  as  years  go  by  tlie  call  for  such  workers  shall  be 
greater.  Arrangements  can  easily  be  made  with  the  above 
named  institution  for  a  course  of  studies  to  be  followed  by 
voung  men  desirous  of  devoting  themselves  to  so  commen- 
dablc  a  work. 


1 

[» 

1 

t 

t 

i 

i  ' 

'If 


iL    i  1 


I'JU  lour  Hi'.rilarjc. 

SECTION  III. — ITS  PLAN  OF  WORK. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  many  to  know  how  our  work  is 
carried  on  from  day  to  day. 
Doiaastic   Work. 

Our  college  is  a  missionary  institution,  as  has  been  stated 
more  than  once.  It  is  not  meant  for  the  rich,  but  for  young 
men  of  moderate  means  and  lor  those  who  could  not  obtain 
an  education  without  some  help.  It  need  not  be  said  that 
if  strong  and  rich  institutions,  where  high  lees  are  paid, 
cannot  begin  to  pay  their  current  expenses  without  outside 
aid,  it  is  out  of  the  question  for  us  to  do  so.  We  depend 
almost  wholly  on  gifts  for  the  carrying  on  of  our  daily  work. 

Great  care  has  been  taken  to  reduce  the  expense  to  the 
minimum.  In  the  first  place  the  young  men,  as  in  the 
INIount  Hermon  and  Northtield  schools,  do  all  the  work  of 
the  college,  with  the  exception  of  the  cooking.  Even  here 
they  lend  a  helping  hand. 

To  each  student  a  certain  work  is  assigned  and  fjrreat 
care  is  taken  so  that  the  work  may  be  thoroughly  done. 
Habits  of  order  are  formed  which  cannot  but  be  of  inesti- 
mable value  to  the  young  men.  Especially  is  this  work 
useful  to  the  young  boys,  unaccustomed  as  the  majority  are 
to  proper  discipline  when  lirst  they  come  to  us. 

With  this  arrangement,  very  little  money  is  paid  out  for 
help.  All  the  young  men  are  expected  to  pay  SlOO  a  year. 
Many  cannot  do  that  at  once,  but  agree  to  comply  with 
the  requirement  in  years  to  come,  as  soon  as  their  circum- 
stances allow  of  it. 

Course  of  Studies. 

The  College  has  two  distinct  departments,  the  prepara- 
tory and  the  collegiate. 

The  preparatory  department  divides  itself  into  four  years. 


f 


Our  Methods  of    Warfare. 


101 


In  the  first  preparatory  we  take  boys  and  keep  them  in  this 
class  until  they  are  prepared  to  enter  upon  the  regular  three 
years  course  which  lits  them  for  admission  into  our  regular 
college  class,  or  into  any  New  P2ngland  college. 

It  is  found  necessary  to  have  a  senior  division  in  this  de- 
partment for  a  class  of  young  men  who  have  been  left 
without  education  by  the  church  of  Rome  and  are  too  fur 
advanced  in  years  to  attend  the  public  schools.  Our  aim 
is  to  give  these  an  elementary  education,  that  will  help  them 
in  life.  They  at  the  same  time  receive  the  religious  ins- 
truction they  stand  in  need  of 

The  question  is  often  asked  :  "Why  do  you  take  boys?" 
Our  answer  is  that  several  very  good  reasons  lead  us  to  do 
so. 

In  the  first  place,  the  boys  we  receive  are  often  taken  out 
of  the  French  parochial  schools  and  educated  on  Protestant, 
American  lines.  We  consider  this  to  be  a  most  worthy 
work,  which  will  prove  to  be  of  inestimable  value  to  this 
country. 

In  the  second  place  many  of  these  boys  would  receive  no 
education  at  all  if  we  did  not  offer  it  to  them.  The  parents 
in  many  cases  do  not  care  much  if  these  boys  are  educated 
or  not.  Being  illiterate  themselves  they  do  not  see  why 
their  children  should  know  more  than  they  do.  They  need 
their  work  at  the  factory  to  help  the  family.  They  can't 
afford  to  let  them  lose  so  much  time.  They  however  con- 
sent  in  many  instances  to  let  us  take  charge  of  their  boys. 
Often  we  do  not  succeed  in  keeping  them  the  whole  year. 
As  soon  as  the  dull  winter  months  are  over  and  the  busy 
spring  has  returned,  the  parents  send  for  the  boys,  just 
when  we  are  doing  the  best  work  with  them.  As  years  go 
on,  we  are  succeeding  in  obtaining  more  perseverance  and 


I 


192  Your  Heritage. 

a   greater   desire  to  complete  a  regular  course  of  studies. 

In  the  third  place  we  must  have  the  boys,  we  must  begin 
with  them,  if  we  are  to  do  a  work  that  will  be  lasting  in  its 
results.  It  is^impossible  to  speak  too  severely  of  the  moral 
and  religious  teaching  given  to  the  French  Roman  Catholic 
youth  by  the  Romish  church.  It  is  very  easy  for  that 
church  to  say  that  she  inculcates  proper  principles  of  mora- 
lity, but  we  know  by  painful  experience  what  sad  havoc 
that  system  of  religion  makes  of  the  conscience. 

I  have  stated  it  more  than  once,  I  may  repeat  it  here.  I 
would  have  no  hope  of  ever  lifting  up  the  French  Roman 
Catholic  population  of  this  country  and  of  Canada,  were  it 
not  for  the  existence  of  the  missionary  boarding-schools  of 
Canada  and  for  this  Springfield  college.  It  is  only  by  tak- 
ing young  boys  and  young  girls,  young  men  and  young 
women  and  by  instilling  daily  in  their  hearts  and  minds  the 
principles  of  the  Gospel,  the  principles  of  righteousness,  of 
honesty  and  of  truthfulness,  that  the  disastrous  results  of 
this  Romish  education  and  the  ignorance  it  breeds,  can  be 
counteracted.  To  expect  to  do  this  work  of  evangelization 
by  building  churches  and  preaching,  very  often  to  empty 
benches,  is  to  make  a  stupendous  mistake.  I  would  not  give 
one  year  of  this  Christian  educational  work  for  ten  years  of 
ordinary  missionary  work.  After  what  has  been  said  on 
mission  work,  church  and  publication  work,  the  statement 
just  made  will  not  be  misinterpreted. 

Our  regular  college  course  extends  over  four  years.  It 
is  very  much  the  same  as  that  of  New  England  colleges. 
More  time  is  necessarily  given  to  a  certain  class  of  subjects. 
Our  young  men  are  preparing  for  a  special  work  and  re- 
quire a  special  preparation. 

The  instruction  is  given  in  both  French  and  English.  It 
is  our  purpose  to  give  a  thorough  training  in  the  French 


f    J''f'^ 


Our  Methods  of  Warfare. 


11)3 


tudies. 
t  begin 
2  in  its 
;  moral 
'atholic 
or  that 
f  mora- 
1  havoc 

here.    I 
L  Roman 

were  it 
;hools  of 
^  by  tak- 
A  young 
iiinds  the 
sness,  of 
-esults  of 

,  can  be 
nrelizatiou 

to  empty 

\  not  give 

years  of 

said  on 

statement 

^ears.  It 
colleges, 
f  subjects, 
k  and  re- 

nglish.    It 
■be  French 


language  and  its  literature.  The  young  men  who  arc  to  be 
leaders  among  the  B^rcnch  of  New  England,  must  have  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  their  own  tongue  if  they  are  to  suc- 
ceed. There  is  not  much  risk  that  our  studentn  will  not 
learn  English.  The  English  tongue  absorbs  us  and  it  is 
much  more  spoken  than  the  French. 

At  the  time  we  write  tiie  faculty  is  composed  of  four 
professors,  (we  have  not  yet  any  regularly  established  and 
endowed  chairs,)  and  live  assistants.  Five  of  the  teaching 
staff  speak  both  languages,  the  others  speak  but  English. 

The  young  men  have  literary  and  debating  societies  trom 
which  much  benefit  is  derived. 

Relujious  Life. 

This  college  rests  pre-eminently  on  a  Christian  basis.  It 
was  born  of  prayer  and  it  has  lived  so  far  on  faith  and 
prayer.  The  Bible  is  one  of  its  prmcipal  text-books,  to  be 
read  reverently  and  prayerfully  every  day. 

A  regular  course  of  Bible  studies  is  given  to  the  students 
of  all  the  years.  These  studies  are  arranged  and  adapted 
to  the  degree  of  advancement  of  the  boys  and  young  men. 
They  are  in  charge  of  the  president. 

The  Bible  instruction  is  of  such  a  character  as  not  to 
interfere  with  the  denominational  preferences  of  the  young 
men.  The  unscriptural  doctrines  of  the  church  of  Rome 
are  fully  discussed.  We  can  scarcely  say  that  there  is  no 
fear  for  the  religious  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  students 
who  come  under  our  care,  as  the  priests  do  of  the  Protest- 
ant young  people  whom  they  attract  to  their  institutions. 

"We  are  perfectly  candid  about  the  matter.  A  Roman 
Catholic  who  spends  a  year  with  us,  if  he  is  serious  and 
has  convictions,  runs  great  risk  of  losing  faith  in  the  old 
system.     Romanism  cannot  stand  very  long  with  the  light 


**    '"'! 


^}  i 


1U4  Your  Heritage 

oftlio  (lospel  shining  upon  and  into  it.     This  has  ben  our 
cxi)i!rioi)cc. 

Jn  iKhlition  to  the  liiblo  course  whidi  forms  part  of  our 
rci^uhir  curricuhun,  we  have  our  family  ix-ligious  life.  Every 
mornin;^  at  a  (juarter  to  nine,  professors  and  students  niv^et 
in  the  hirgest  recitatiiju  room,  called  the  chapel,  for  morn- 
in;^  prayers,  all  taking  their  Bibles  with  them.  This  ser- 
vice is  conducted  by  the  president.  A  hymn  is  sung,  thew 
follows  tlie  reading  of  a  chapter  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
alternately.  The  leader  reads  a  verse  in  French,  a  certain 
inimber  read  the  m^xt  in  Kn'^lish  and  the  rest  I'ead  the 
third  verse  in  Fn-ncli,  and  so  on  to  tiie  end  of  the  chapter. 
Then  follows  the  prayer,  sometimes  in  French,  sometimes 
in  English  ending  with  the  J^ord's  prayer  in  unison. 

On  the  Sabbath  day  all  the  students  are  recpiired  to  at- 
tend church  morninj'  and  evening;.  In  the  morniu'i;  all  are 
expected  to  attend  the  French  Protestant  church,  with  the 
exce[)tion  of  the  young  boys  who  go  to  Hope  church,  the 
distance  being  too  great  lor  these  to  attend  the  Ibrmer.  In 
the  evening  the  young  men  are  free  to  go  to  an  evangelical 
church  of  their  choice,  their  names  being  given  to  the  j)astor 
of  such  church. 

F^very  Sabbath  afternoon  we  have  the  regular  College 
chapel  service.  It  is  led  by  the  professors  and  senior  stu- 
dents in  turn.  A  topic  is  chosen  in  advance  and  after  a 
brief  address  by  the  leader,  the  meeting  is  thrown  open  to 
all  for  addresses  and  prayers.  As  a  rule  every  minute  of 
the  hour  is  well  employed.  The  object  of  this  service  is 
to  get  close  to  the  heart  of  the  boys  and  young  men  and 
lead  the  unconverted  to  accept  Christ  and  profess  his  name. 
Sometimes  the  service  takes  the  form  of  a  Bible  reading  on 
some  practical  subject,  or  again  the  president  or  one  of  the 
professors  gives  a  more  extended  address  on  topics  bearing 


n\  i 


the 
In 

nastor 


[f  stu- 

It'ter   a 

ten  to 

ite  of 

'ice  is 

n  and 

panic. 

hg  on 

)f  the 

taring 


Our  Mi(/,<i)ls  nf  Warfai't'.  195 

(liivcilv  upon  the  life-work  which  many  of  our  youn;^  men 
have  in  view. 

The  c()ih'<::e  ^Miinfr  lion's  Christian  Association,  organi- 
zed hist  winter,  has  a  weekly  prayer-meeting  on  Thursday 
afternoon.  Tlu^se  meetings  though  not  largely  attended, 
have  done  much  good.  As  Viuirs  goon  and  as  our  numbers 
increase,  they  will  increast'  in  ellieit'iicy. 

Last  fall  a  missiomiry  society  was  organized  with  the  view 
of  infusing  a  missionary  spirit  among  our  young  men.  Once 
a  month  a  collection  was  takt;n  up  and  in  the  spring  $')() 
was  j)aid  out  for  different  benevolent  purposes,  not  a  very 
large  sum  to  be  sure,  yet  the  raising  of  it  involved  sacrificjs 
and  these  sacritices  are  worth  a  great  deal  in  the  formation 
of  a  Christian,  benevolent  character. 

It  is  (Hir  purj)osi!  to  engage  in  missioiuiry  work  during 
the  college  session  as  opi)ortunity  offers.  Some  of  the 
young  men  may  go  out  into  the  city  or  adjoining  towns  on 
Saturday  or  Sunday  to  hold  meetings,  distribute  Cliristian 
literature  and  in  other  ways  carry  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  U)  the  thousands  of  French  Canadians  who  are  drift- 
ing  itito  carelessness  an<l  infidelity. 

"With  such  influences  as  these,  surrounding  our  students, 
it  can  be  easily  understood  how  much  good  can  be  effected. 
Let  three  or  four  hundred  young  ])coj)le,  taken  from  among 
the  French  Canadian  masses,  be  educated  on  these  lines 
and  they  will  act  as  a  leavenin<r  influence  on  the  entire 
population. 

AVe  cannot  insist  too  strongly  on  this  phase  of  missionary 
work,  believing  as  we  do,  that  it  is  the  most  speedy,  econ- 
omical and  effective  method  to  use  to  bring  this  population 
into  harmony  with  the  Christian  civilization  we  are  anxious 
to  develop  in  this  country. 


1 

* 

:  ! 
j_  1    ■ 

1 

i 

j 

: 

1 

Mi 

5 

1 

f  1 

1 

1^ 

B    1 

m-      ji 

f  1 

|:  i 

,   1 

il 

■ 

! 

Hi- 

It:;     ' 

ll 

-::    i 

1*  >l  ',  .  .il' 

r.     ""^■:  i 

I       .  .  ! 

m-~ 

19G 


Heritage    Your. 


SECTION  IV.  ITS  PRESENT  STATUS. 


A  college  is  not  built  iu  a  day.  Some  of  the  difficulties 
which  we  had  to  encounter  have  been  alluded  to.  Our 
hopes  and  expectations  for  the  future  become  bright  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  we  have  been  able  to  remove  so  many  of 
the  prejudices  which  acted  as  strong  barriers  against  us,  and 
we  have  won  the  confidence  and  cu-operation  of  the  church- 
es and  of  a  goodly  number  of  educated  laymen. 

This  was  the  first  desideratum.  No  enterprise  can  hope 
to  succeed  as  long  as  public  opinion  is  against  it.  The  press, 
secular  and  religious,  comments  frequently  and  favorably  on 
this  educational  enterprise,  so  does  the  pulpit.  TJjus  two 
of  the  most  powerful  agencies  of  our  modern  society  are  our 
friends  and  supporters  henceforth.  This  implies  a  great 
victory. 

The  French  Protestant  College  is  only  beginning  its  work. 
As  a  college  it  has  done  two  year*  m'  wo)''  as  well  as  it 
could  do  it,  with  the  tools  it  had  at  its  ■'  sposaiand  the  ma- 
terial it  had  to  mould  into  shape.  Of  the  fifty  students  it 
gave  instruction  to  last  session,  only  four  were  classed  as 
regular  undergraduates,  two  being  Freshmen  and  two  So- 
phomores. In  view  of  the  fact  that  these  young  men,  at 
any  rate  three  of  them,  began  their  studies  later  in  life  than 
they  would  have  desired,  we  will  find  it  impossible  to  over- 
take all  the  work  prescribed  in  our  curriculum,  and  which 
we  will  exact  of  the  classes  which  ai'e  to  follow. 

So  far  we  have  graduated  no  students  and  will  have  no 
graduating  class  for  two  years.  It  is  our  purpose  to  send 
out  men  well  equipped,  well  trained,  and  especially  do  we 
aim  at  the  development  of  strong  characters. 

The  world  asks  for  men  to-day,  iu  every  sphere  of  activ- 
ity, and  in  no  field  of  labor  are  strong  men  more  needed 


It*  .r: 


Our  Methods  of  Warfare. 


197 


than  among  the  million  of  French  Canadians  of  this  great 
republic. 

Tiireo  years  ago  we  left  Lowell  to  come  to  Springfield. 
"We  had  not  a  cent  in  our  treasury,  and  our  assets  were  a 
few  broken  chairs  and  second-handed  school  desks.  Nobody 
knew  when  we  took  our  departure,  nobody  bid  us  farewell. 

A  warm  reception  however  awaited  us  here.  A  friend 
who  does  not  wish  us  to  mention  his  name,  gave  us  a  S  1000 
lot  and  on  this  parcel  ot  land  we  rested  our  weary  feet, 
rested  our  weary  head  and  aching  heart. 

About  two  months  later  we  turned  the  first  sod,  sought 
God's  blessing  upon  the  work  and  begun  with  fresh  vigor 
with  a  new  enthusiasm,  the  work  in  which  our  life  is  wrap- 
ped up. 

At   the   moment   we  write,    we   hn^-c   a  property  worth 

8  25,000  practically  in  our  hands.  It  embraces  about*  two 
acres  of  land,  situated  in  one  of  the  most  desirable  pares  of 
our  city.  We  have  two  Ijuildings,  a  wooden  iMiilding 
once  used  as  the  City  Hospital,  now  devoted  to  the  b(>ys, 
and  the  Owen  Street  Hall,  which  acts  for  the  present  as 
dormitory,  recitation  hall,  chapel  and  ])rinting  house. 
The  garret  is  our  printing  room  just  now  and  the  cellar  our 
laboratory. 

Adjoining  our  college  property  is  a  lot  about  as  large  as 
that  owned  by  the  college,  which  two  friends  have  pur- 
chased and  hold  for  the  institution.  A  good  house  has  been 
built  on  this  property  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  president. 
It  is  hoped  that  this  house  and  land  will  be  transfered  to 
the  college  ere  long. 

The  expense  for  the  year  1890-91  was  about  Sl0,500. 
This  includes  the  salaries  of  four  professors  and  four  assis- 
tants, the  household  expenses  for  a  family  of  about  fifty, 
and  in  fine  all  the  expenditure  of  the  year.     We  have   no 


m  i 


n 


4| 


108  Your  Ev.ritarje. 

endowment,  save  two  scholarships,  one  which  yields  890 
and  another  S25.  This  money  is  used  to  aid  needy  stu- 
dents. We  live  from  day  to  day,  from  year  to  year  on 
faith ;  we  plan  humbly  and  modestly,  trusting  that  God 
will  send  us  the  means  needed  to  carry  out  our  restricted 
programme. 

We  have  about  65000  paid  or  pledged  toward  a  building 
for  a  young  women's  department.  We  have  a  Ihie  build- 
ing lot  on  which  to  build,  but  we  do  not  intend  to  begin 
operations  until  we  have  $20,000  securely  pledged. 

Last  year  we  gave  instruction  in  the  preparatory  and 
college  departments  to  72  boys  and  young  men,  to  some  of 
these  for  a  short  time  only,  but  to  the  majority  for  the  col- 
lego  year.  About  105  sought  admission,  without  speaking 
of  the  young  women  who  are  waiting  to  come  in. 

SECTION  V.  ITS  IJUOADEK  AIMS. 

As  we  look  a  little  into  the  future,  we  can  see  a  wider 
and  more  comprehensive  held  of  usefulness  than  it  is  now 
advisible  for  us  to  speak  of  in  detail. 

The  young  women's  department  we  have  already  alluded 
to.  We  attach  much  importance  to  it  and  we  eagerly 
await  the  day  when  it  will  be  in  our  power  to  throw  open 
our  doors  and  say  to  those  many  bright,  dark-eyed,  intelli- 
gent and  often  beautiful  French  girls,  who  are  wasting 
their  young  womanhood  in  the  factories  :  "Enter  our  por- 
tals, breathe  the  Christian  atmosphere  of  this  institution  of 
learning,  erected  by  God's  people,  so  that  new,  higher  and 
nobler  views  of  life  may  be  set  before  you,  that  you  may 
discover  what  possibilities  lie  buried  in  your  young  hearts 
and  brains,  that  you  may  make  the  best  of  your  lives." 

Our  whole  manhood  is  stirred  within  us,  and  it  seems  to 
us  that  had  we  ten  lives  we  would  gladly  sjiond  them  in  the 


m 


'^ 


Ig 


Our  3Iethods  of  Warfare.  VJO 

endeavor  to  secure  for  these   girls,    the   advantages    they 
would  so  highly  prize  if  once  they  understood  them. 

This  young  women's  department  will  open  to  our  young 
French  Canadian  girls  a  new  field  for  their  activity. 

We  are  preparing  young  men,  we  are  giving  thcni  a 
broad,  liberal  education,  we  are  striving  to  educate  the 
whole  man.  Some  of  them  will  be  pastors  and  teachers. 
They  will  marry  and  become  heads  of  families..  Now 
will  their  usefulness  in  life  be  destroyed,  as  has  so  often 
bCvin  the  case,  by  ill-assorted  marriages?  Their  wives  should 
be  wise,  Christian,  educated  French  Canadian  young  avo- 
men,  college  graduates.  Where  can  they  find  them?  It  is 
our  heaven-imposed  mission  to  train  them. 

The  field  we  are  working  in  and  which  the  missionaries 
of  the  cross  or  the  agents  of  Satan  must  soon  occupy,  requi 
res  a  large  force  of  consecrated  women  to  act  as  Bible-read- 
ers, messengers  of  truth  in  thousands  of  French  homes  of 
the  United  States,  of  Canada  and  of  BVance  for  that  matter. 
It  is  the  mission  of  our  college  to  prepare  such,  to  make 
them  familiar  with  botli  French  and  English. 

To  this  department  there  will  come  intelligent  young 
women,  who  may  not  be  able,  tor  want  of  preliminary 
training,  to  take  a  college  course.  To  these  we  may  give 
a  good  elementary  education  and  give  them  a  course  of  ins- 
truction in  general  house-keeping,  cooking,  sewing  and  the 
rest,  and  thus  make  of  them  practical,  useful  women.  The 
half  of  the  divorces  wiiich  disgrace  this  land  are  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  girls  who  marry,  do  not  know  the  elements  of 
house-keeping.  Quarrels  arise  over  the  sour  bread  and 
other  indigestible  food,  over  the  untidy  house,  and  sepa- 
ration follows. 

We  are  asking  ourselves  the  question  whether  we  could 
not  educate  a  class  of  girls  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  them 


i 


iJ 


't!      ?! 


200 


Your  Beritage. 


the  superiority  of  domestic  work  over  factory  service,  and 
make  them  content  to  do  house  work  in  Christian  homes 
where  they  would  be  treated  in  a  Christian  manner. 

We  are  not  sure  if  this  project  can  be  accomplished,  but 
the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  it,  both  to  th«.  girls  and 
to  the  patrons,  would  justify  us  in  attempting  the  experi- 
ment. 

Hundreds  of  pure  maidens  lose  their  womanhood  in  our 
great  cities,  through  ignorance  and  because  they  are  thrown 
upon  a  wicked  world  with  no  one  to  advise  them.  It  were 
a  hundred  fold  better  for  them  to  be  in  good  homes,  than 
in  the  boarding  house.  We  do  not  think  we  are  idle  dream- 
ers when  we  say  that  we  have  a  great  work  to  do  in  this 
direction,  by  adapting  our  educational  work  to  the  needs  of 
the  population  we  are  called  upon  to  educate  and  save  for 
God  and  the  country. 

In  answer  to  many  inquiries,  we  would  say  that  in  all 
probability  arrangements  will  be  made  for  a  French  sum- 
mer school,  especially  for  those  who  desire  to  study  in  view 
of  work  among  the  French. 

The  college  may  also  have  a  department  to  which  Ame- 
rican girls  could  come  to  acquire  a  practical  knowledge  of 
the  French  language  and  its  rich  literature.  The  faith 
of  many  a  young  American  girl  has  been  destroyed  in  the 
Romish  convents  of  Canada  and  the  United  States.  There 
should  be  no  excuse  for  sending  young  wonicn  to  these  Ro- 
mish institutions,  erected  very  largely  for  proselytizing  pur- 
poses. 

We  throw  out  these  hints,  which  will  sullice  to  indicate 
some  of  the  additional  features  of  the  work  upon  which  we 
may  be  called  to  enter  in  days  to  come. 


Our  Methods  of  Warfare. 


201 


SECTION  VI.  —  ITS  PRESSING  NEEDS. 


me- 

IQ  of 

■iiith 

the 

lere 

Ro- 

pur- 


As  is  the  case  with  all  young  institutions,  the  needs  of  the 
French  Protestant  College  are  many.  It  is  not  expected 
that  these  can  be  met  at  once.  The  Board  of  trustees  are 
prepared  to  wait  patiently  for  the  realization  of  their  larger 
plans. 

It  is  a  word  on  our  pressing  needs,  which  we  feel  cons- 
trained to  speak  in  closing  this  our  plea  for  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  the  French  speaking  population  of  this  great  repu- 
blic. 

It  is  with  gratitude  to  God  that  we  say  that  we  are  now 
at  a  standstill  in  this  educational  work.  By  this  we  mean 
that  the  growth  of  the  college  has  been  so  rapid  these  last 
three  years,  that  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  give  admission 
to  more  than  sixty  students,  while  one  hundred  and  five 
made  application  last  year.  This  number  would  at  once  be 
doubled  if  it  could  be  announced  that  young  women  are  ad- 
mitted. 

We  consider  it  our  duty  to  call  tlieattentionof  the  Christ- 
ian people  of  New  England  and  of  this  country  to  this  state 
of  things.  Here  is  a  large  and  ever  increasing  population 
which  the  French  priests  are  endeavoring  to  keep  in  the  old 
ruts.  They  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  perpetuate  among 
them,  the  customs,  manners,  superstitions,  national  and  re- 
ligious prejudices  which  they  bring  with  them  from  the 
province  of  Quebec.  The  public  schools  reach  but  a  com- 
paratively small  number.  The  vast  majority  are  being 
fashioned  in  the  old  ultramontane  mould,  in  the  French 
Catholic  parochial  school. 

Now  for  reasons  which  need  not  be  repeated,  the  French 
Protestant  College,  an  American  iustitution  which  offers  a 
Ohristian  education  to  French  Canadijin  young  people,  sue- 


202 


Your  Heritar/e. 


ceeds  in  attracting,  without  special  effort,  twice  as  many  as 
it  can  receive.  May  we  not  be  permitted  to  ask,  how  long 
it  will  be  our  painful  duty  to  say  to  these  young  people  who 
knock  at  our  door,  not  only  for  intellectual  but  also  for  spi- 
ritual f'jod  :  "We  can  do  nothing  for  you.  We  know  that 
you  have  minds  and  hearts  capable  of  the  fullest  develop- 
ment. Properly  educated,  you  would  become  a  source  of 
strength  to  this  nation  ;  but  our  rooms  are  all  full.  Run 
you^  cl':  •  stay  out  in  the  cold  night  of  Romish  supers- 

tion,  ^.'i  .  n  your  case,  will  end  in  the  darker  night  of 
irreligion,  iniidelity  and  all  the  evils  they  lead  to." 

As  V  -  *\rite  ti  *^  ■'  lines  under  the  eye  of  God,  we  cannot 
but  feel  oppressed.  TJa  New  England  sky  is  not  the  clear, 
pure  and  broad  expanse  under  the  protection  of  which  the 
Pilgrims  and  Puritans  dwelt  at  peace.  Dark  and  porten- 
tious  clouds  overhang  it.  They  may  break  upon  us  as  hur- 
ricans  and  cyclones.  It  is  none  too  soon  for  you,  lovers  of 
native  land,  to  build  up  the  new  instittuions  imperatively 
needed  to  protect  the  old  ones  and  give  them  stability. 

What  then  should  the  Christian  public,  nay  patriotic  citi- 
zens who  make  no  profession  of  religion,  do  at  once  for  this 
young  college  ? 

1st.  Place  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees  613,000  for  the 
current  year.  In  addition  to  this,  the  sum  of  $1000  is 
needed  for  the  Scientific  department  in  which  work  is  to 
begin  this  fall. 

2nd.  A  new  dining-room  and  kitchen  are  required. 

3rd.  The  erection  of  a  suitable  budding  for  young  women 
should  not  be  delayed  any  longer.  We  are  losing  precious 
time.  The  sum  of  $5000  is  already  secured,  but  some 
$15,000  or  $20,000  more  is  needed. 

4th.  A  recitation  hall,   with  chapel  is  urgently  needed. 


Uf  ■ 


'■£>■ 


! 


Our  Mtthods  of  Warfare. 


203 


We  have  no  wnnn  largo  enough  for  our  religious  exercises, 
or  public  gatherings. 

With  these  buildings  we  would  be  able  to  receive  some 
two  hundred  students  und  could  do  efficient  work  for  some 
years  to  come. 

It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  an  endowment  fund  is  also 
a  pressing  necessity.  It  is  not  easy  to  plan  with  nothing 
whatever  to  depend  upon.  Nor  is  it  easy  to  find  many 
Avell  equipped  teachers,  willing  to  nuike  engagements  on 
mere  faith. 

AVe  feel  confident  that  all  these  needs  will  be  fully  met  in 
the  near  future.  The  hand  of  God  has  been  so  visible  in 
the  brief  history  of  this  College,  that  there  is  no  room  left 
for  doubt.  What  we  believed  at  the  outset,  when  well  nigh 
all  were  doubters,  we  are  now  more  than  ever  convinced 
of,  namely  that  this  enterprise  is  of  God  and  must  triumph 
over  all  difficulties. 

CONCLUSION. 

In  closing  this  little  book  we  say  out  of  an  honest  heart 
we  trust :  Go,  do  thy  humble  work.  Carry  the  message 
where  good  it  will  do.  Ifsome  needed  information  be  given 
that  will  arrest  attention,  create  sympathy  on  behalf  of  a 
religious  and  intelligent  people,  which  a  cruel  sacerdotal 
caste  has  oppressed  for  more  than  three  centuries,  a  sympa- 
thy that  will  lead  men  and  women  to  adopt  wise  and  pru- 
dent means  for  their  emancipation  and  salvation,  the  writer 
will  say  out  of  a  thankful  heart : 

"Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us  but  unto  thy  name 
give  glory,  for  thy  mercy,  and  for  thy  truth's  sake" 


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